Hot-dip galvanized steel sheet

ABSTRACT

A hot-dip galvanized steel sheet wherein the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet comprises a base steel sheet and a hot-dip galvanized layer, a ferrite phase is, by volume fraction, 40% or more and 97% or less in a range of ⅛ thickness to ⅜ thickness centered at a position of ¼ thickness from the surface of the base steel sheet, a hard structure is 3% or more in total, wherein the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet has the hot-dip galvanized layer in which Fe is 5.0% or less and Al is 1.0% or less, and columnar grains formed of a ζ phase is 20% or more in an entire interface between the plated layer and the base steel sheet on the surface of the base steel sheet in which a ratio of a volume fraction of the hard structure in a surface layer range of 20 μm depth in a steel sheet direction from an interface between the hot-dip galvanized layer and the base steel sheet is 0.10 times or more to 0.90 times or less of a volume fraction of the hard structure in the range of ⅛ thickness to ⅜ thickness, and wherein the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet has a refined layer at the side of the interface in the base steel sheet, and wherein an average thickness of the refined layer, an average grain size of ferrite in the refined layer and a maximum size of the oxide included in the refined layer are defined respectively.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet. The present invention relates to a high strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheet particularly excellent in ductility, bendability, hole expansibility, and plating adhesion at the time of bending deformation and excellent in cyclic bending fatigue resistance.

Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-225612, filed on Nov. 5, 2014, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

RELATED ART

There has been an increasing demand for high-strengthening of steel sheets mainly used for automotive frame members in recent years. For these high strength steel sheets, it is necessary to have formabilities such as ductility, bendability and flange formability in order to obtain complex member shapes. In addition, since these high strength steel sheets are always affected by vibration when used for automotive members, it is required to have high fatigue resistance. Further, since an automotive steel sheet is generally used outdoors, it is usually required for the steel sheet to have excellent corrosion resistance.

In uses for automotive outside sheets and the like, the peripheral part of a sheet is usually subjected to severe bending (hem bending) by press working. Not only in uses for the automotive outside sheets but also in other uses, a sheet is subjected to severe bending by press working, hole expansion working, or the like to be used in many cases. In the case of subjecting a conventional hot-dip galvanized steel sheet to severe bending, hole expansion working, or the like, the plated layer is sometimes peeled off from the base steel sheet in the worked part. When the plated layer is peeled off from the base steel sheet as described above, there is a problem that the corrosion resistance of the peeled part is lost and the base steel sheet is corroded and rusted at an early stage. In addition, even when the plated layer is not peeled off, the adhesion between the plated layer and the base steel sheet is lost, even small voids are formed in the area in which the adhesion is lost to cause external air or moisture to enter the voids. Thus, a function of corrosion resistance by the plated layer is lost, and as a result, as described above, corrosion and rusting occurs in the base steel sheet at an early stage.

In view of such problems, for a high strength steel sheet for uses in which such severe bending or the like is performed, there has been a strong desire for developing a plated steel sheet including a hot-dip galvanized layer excellent in adhesion of the plated layer with the base steel sheet.

In order to enhance the adhesion of a plated layer, for example, as represented by Patent Documents 1 to 3, methods of forming oxides inside a steel sheet and reducing the amount of oxides at an interface between the base steel and a plated layer that causes plating peeling are proposed. However, in such a case of forming an oxide on the surface of the steel sheet, carbon in the surface of the steel sheet is bound to oxygen to be gasified, and as a result, carbon is released from the steel sheet. Thus, in the technologies described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, the strength of the region of the steel sheet from which the carbon is released is significantly decreased in some cases. In the case in which the strength of the surface of the steel sheet is decreased, there is a concern that fatigue resistance, which strongly depends on the properties of the surface part, is deteriorated and thus fatigue limit strength is significantly decreased.

Alternatively, in order to enhance the adhesion of a plated layer, in Patent Document 4, a method of enhancing plating adhesion by reforming the surface of a base steel sheet in such a manner that steps are performed by adding new annealing step and pickling step before a normal annealing step, is proposed. However, in the method described in Patent Document 4, the number of steps is increased as compared to a normal method of producing a high strength plated steel sheet, and thus there is a problem in costs.

Further, in Patent Document 5, a method of enhancing plating adhesion by removing carbon from the surface part of a base steel sheet is proposed. However, in the method described in Patent Document 5, the strength of the region from which carbon is removed is significantly decreased. In this case, there is a concern that fatigue resistance, which strongly depends on the properties of the surface part, is deteriorated and thus fatigue limit strength is significantly decreased in the method described in Patent Document 5.

In Patent Documents 6 and 7, there are disclosed steel sheets in which the amounts of Mn, Al, and Si in a plated layer are controlled to be within a suitable range and plating adhesion is improved. For the steel sheets described in these Patent Documents 6 and 7, it is required to control the amounts of elements in the plated layer with high accuracy at the time of production, which applies a great industrial load and causes a problem in costs.

In Patent Document 8, a high strength steel sheet in which the microstructure of the steel sheet is formed of only ferrite is proposed as a method for enhancing plating adhesion. However, since the microstructure is formed of only soft ferrite in the steel sheet described in Patent Document 8, sufficiently high strength cannot be obtained.

Here, a galvannealed steel sheet obtained by subjecting a steel sheet to an alloying treatment after a hot dip galvanizing treatment is widely used. The alloying treatment is a treatment of heating a plated layer to a temperature of equal to or higher than the melting point of Zn, diffusing a large amount of Fe atoms into the plated layer from the inside of a base steel sheet, and forming the plated layer into a layer mainly including a Zn—Fe alloy. For example, in Patent Documents 9, 10 and 11, galvannealed steel sheets excellent in plating adhesion are proposed. However, in the galvannealed steel sheets of Patent Documents 9 to 11, it is required to heat a steel sheet at a high temperature so as to sufficiently alloy the plated layer. When the steel sheet is heated to a high temperature, the microstructure inside the steel sheet is reformed and particularly coarse iron-based carbides are easily generated and the properties of the steel sheet deteriorate. Thus, this case is not preferable.

In Patent Document 12, in the production of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet of the base steel sheet containing Si—Mn—Al, by controlling of the entering temperature and defining the area fraction of the cross section of the alloy layer formed at the interface between the base steel sheet and the plated layer, the technology for improving plating adhesion and spot weldability is disclosed.

In the steel sheet described in Patent Document 12, it is disclosed that Si—Mn oxides adversely affect on plating adhesion. However, a technology for reducing the amounts of Si—Mn oxides until plating is started is not disclosed in Patent Document 12. In addition, in Patent Document 12, the temperature at which the base steel sheet enters a plating bath is set to be higher than the temperature of the hot dip galvanizing bath (The temperature varies depending on the Al content in the hot dip galvanizing bath, the temperature at which the base steel sheet enters a plating bath is set to be at least 4° C. higher than temperature of the hot dip galvanizing bath and to be at most 28° C. higher than temperature of the hot dip galvanizing bath.), therefore regarding the stability of the bath temperature, and uniformity in the properties of the product is not sufficient in some cases.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

-   [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First     Publication No. 2008-019465 -   [Patent Document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First     Publication No. 2005-060742 -   [Patent Document 3] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First     Publication No. H9-176815 -   [Patent Document 4] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First     Publication No. 2001-026853 -   [Patent Document 5] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First     Publication No. 2002-088459 -   [Patent Document 6] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First     Publication No. 2003-055751 -   [Patent Document 7] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First     Publication No. 2003-096541 -   [Patent Document 8] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First     Publication No. 2005-200750 -   [Patent Document 9] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First     Publication No. H11-140587 -   [Patent Document 10] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First     Publication No. 2001-303226 -   [Patent Document 11] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First     Publication No. 2005-060743 -   [Patent Document 12] Published Japanese Translation No. 2013-541645     of the PCT International Publication

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In consideration of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a high strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheet excellent in formabilities of a steel sheet, which are represented by ductility, bendability and stretch-flange formability and excellent in fatigue resistance, weldability, corrosion resistance and plating adhesion.

Means for Solving the Problem

The present inventors have conducted intensive investigations for obtaining a high strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheet excellent in formabilities of a steel sheet represented by ductility, bendability and stretch-flange formability and excellent in fatigue resistance, weldability, corrosion resistance and plating adhesion. As a result, the present inventors have improved ductility and hole expansibility (stretch-flange property) by controlling microstructures of a steel sheet in an appropriate structure fraction. In addition, the present inventors have improved bendability and fatigue resistance by controlling a volume fraction of a hard phase at the side of the base steel sheet of an interface between a plating layer and the base steel sheet. The present inventors have suppressed plating peeling by forming a ζ phase (FeZn₁₃) in a plated layer and incorporating a coarse oxide, which acts as a fracture origin, in the inside thereof. By the above method, the present inventors have found that a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet excellent in formabilities of a steel sheet represented by ductility, bendability and hole expansibility (stretch-flange property) and excellent in fatigue resistance, weldability, corrosion resistance and plating adhesion can be obtained without subjecting the plating layer to an alloying treatment.

The present invention has been completed based on the findings and aspects thereof are as follows.

(1) A hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to an aspect of the present invention, is a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet comprising: a base steel sheet; and

a hot-dip galvanized layer formed on at least one surface of the base steel sheet, wherein: the base steel sheet includes, a chemical composition comprising, % by mass,

C: 0.040% to 0.280%,

Si: 0.05% to 2.00%,

Mn: 0.50% to 3.50%,

P: 0.0001% to 0.1000%,

S: 0.0001% to 0.0100%,

Al: 0.001% to 1.500%,

N: 0.0001% to 0.0100%,

O: 0.0001% to 0.0100%, and

a remainder of Fe and impurities;

in a range of ⅛ thickness to ⅜ thickness centered at a position of ¼ thickness from the surface of the base steel sheet, by volume fraction, 40% or more and 97% or less of a ferrite phase, a total of 3% or more of a hard structure comprising one or more of a bainite phase, a bainitic ferrite phase, a fresh martensite phase and a tempered martensite phase, a residual austenite phase is 0 to 8% by volume fraction, a total of a pearlite phase and a coarse cementite phase is 0 to 8% by volume fraction, in a surface layer range of 20 μm depth in a steel sheet direction from an interface between the hot-dip galvanized layer and the base steel sheet, a volume fraction of a residual austenite is 0 to 3%, the base steel sheet includes a microstructure in which V1/V2 which is a ratio of a volume fraction V1 of the hard structure in the surface layer range and a volume fraction V2 of the hard structure in the range of ⅛ thickness to ⅜ thickness centered at the position of ¼ thickness from the surface of the base steel sheet is 0.10 or more and 0.90 or less, a Fe content is more than 0% to 5.0% or less and an Al content is more than 0% to 1.0% or less in the hot-dip galvanized layer, and columnar grains formed of a ζ phase are included in the hot-dip galvanized layer, a ratio ((A*/A)×100) of an interface (A*) between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet in an entire interface (A) between the hot-dip galvanized plated layer and the base steel sheet is 20% or more, a refined layer is formed at the side of the interface in the base steel sheet, an average thickness of the refined layer is 0.1 to 5.0 μm, an average grain size of ferrite in the refined layer is 0.1 to 3.0 μm, one or two or more of oxides of Si and Mn are contained, and a maximum size of the oxide is 0.01 to 0.4 μm.

(2) The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the above (1), wherein the base steel sheet further contains, % by mass, one or two or more selected from

Ti: 0.001% to 0.150%,

Nb: 0.001% to 0.100%, and

V: 0.001% to 0.300%.

(3) The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the above (1) or (2), wherein the base steel sheet contains, % by mass, one or two or more selected from

Cr: 0.01% to 2.00%,

Ni: 0.01% to 2.00%,

Cu: 0.01% to 2.00%,

Mo: 0.01% to 2.00%,

B: 0.0001% to 0.0100%, and

W: 0.01% to 2.00%.

(4) The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to any one of the above (1) to (3), wherein the base steel sheet contains, % by mass, one or two or more selected from Ca, Ce, Mg, Zr, La, and REM in a total amount of 0.0001% to 0.0100%.

(5) The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to any one of the above (1) to (4), wherein a ratio of an interface formed between ζ grains in which coarse oxides are present and the base steel sheet in an interface between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet in the hot-dip galvanized layer is 50% or less.

(6) The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to any one of the above (1) to (5), wherein a plated amount on one surface of the base steel sheet in the hot-dip galvanized layer is 10 g/m² or more and 100 g/m² or less.

Effects of the Invention

According to the above aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet excellent in formability, fatigue resistance, weldability, corrosion resistance and plating adhesion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an enlarged structure micrograph of the vicinity of an area including an interface between a hot-dip galvanized layer and a base steel sheet in the cross section of a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section structure micrograph of the vicinity of an area including an interface between a hot-dip galvanized layer and a base steel sheet in the cross section of a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to an example.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the embodiment is a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet which a hot-dip galvanized layer (hereinafter, also referred to as a plated layer simply) is formed on a surface of a base steel sheet (hereinafter, also referred to as a steel sheet simply) including a chemical composition which comprises, % by mass, C: 0.040% to 0.280%, Si: 0.05% to 2.00%, Mn: 0.50% to 3.50%, P: 0.0001% to 0.1000%, S: 0.0001% to 0.0100%, Al: 0.001% to 1.500%, N: 0.0001% to 0.0100%, O: 0.0001% to 0.0100%, and a remainder of Fe and impurities.

It is appropriate that the thickness of the base steel sheet is 0.6 mm or more and less than 5.0 mm. When the thickness of the base steel sheet is less than 0.6 mm, it is difficult to keep the shape of the base steel sheet flat and the thickness is not appropriate. In addition, when the thickness of the base steel sheet is 5.0 mm or more, the control of cooling in a production process will be difficult, a predetermined microstructure is not obtained and formability deteriorates.

First, the chemical components (composition) of the base steel sheet constituting the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the embodiment will be described below. In the following description, the term “%” means “% by mass”.

[C: 0.040% to 0.280%]

C is added to enhance the strength of the base steel sheet. However, when the C content is more than 0.280%, the spot weldability is deteriorated. Thus, the C content is 0.280% or less. From the viewpoint of spot weldability, the C content is preferably 0.250% or less and more preferably 0.220% or less. On the other hand, when the C content is less than 0.040%, the strength is deteriorated and thus it is difficult to secure sufficient maximum tensile strength. Thus, the C content is 0.040% or more. In order to further increase the strength, the C content is preferably 0.055% or more and more preferably 0.070% or more.

[Si: 0.05% to 2.00%]

Si is an element that suppresses formation of iron-based carbides in the base steel sheet and enhances strength and formability. However, Si is an element that makes steel brittle. When the Si content is more than 2.00%, a trouble such as cracking of a cast slab or the like easily occurs. Therefore, the Si content is 2.00% or less. Further, Si forms oxides on the surface of the base steel sheet in an annealing step to significantly impair plating adhesion. From this viewpoint, the Si content is preferably 1.500% or less and more preferably 1.200% or less. On the other hand, when the Si content is less than 0.05%, in a plating step for the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, a large amount of coarse iron-based carbides is formed and strength and formability deteriorate. Therefore, the Si content is 0.05% or more. From the viewpoint of suppressing formation of iron-based carbides, the Si content is preferably 0.10% or more and more preferably 0.25% or more.

[Mn: 0.50% to 3.50%]

Mn is added to increase the strength by increasing the hardenability of the base steel sheet. However, when the Mn content is more than 3.50%, a coarse Mn-concentrated part is generated in the thickness central part of the base steel sheet and embrittlement easily occurs. Thus, a trouble such as cracking of a cast slab easily occurs. Therefore, the Mn content is 3.50% or less. In addition, an increase in the Mn content results in deterioration of spot weldability of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet. For this reason, the Mn content is preferably 3.00% or less and more preferably 2.80% or less. On the other hand, when the Mn content is less than 0.50%, a large amount of soft structure during cooling after annealing is formed and thus it is difficult to secure a sufficiently high maximum tensile strength. Accordingly, the Mn content is necessary to be 0.50% or more. In order to further enhance strength of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, the Mn content is preferably 0.80% or more and more preferably 1.00% or more.

[P: 0.0001% to 0.1000%]

P is an element that makes steel brittle and when the P content is more than 0.1000%, troubles such as cracking of a cast slab and cracking of a slab during hot rolling easily occurs. Therefore, the P content is 0.1000% or less. In addition, P is an element that causes embrittlement of a molten part by spot welding, and the P content is preferably 0.0400% or less and more preferably 0.0200% or less in order to obtain sufficient welded joint strength. On the other hand, a P content of less than 0.0001% results in a greatly increased production cost. Thus, it is preferable that the P content has a lower limit of 0.0001% and the P content is 0.0010% or more.

[S: 0.0001% to 0.0100%]

S is an element that is bounded to Mn and forms coarse MnS and formability such as ductility, hole expansibility (stretch-flange property) and bendability deteriorates. Therefore, the S content is 0.0100% or less. In addition, S is an element that deteriorates spot weldability. Therefore, the S content is preferably 0.0060% or less and more preferably 0.0035% or less. On the other hand, a S content of less than 0.0001% results in a greatly increased production cost. Therefore, it is preferable that the S content has a lower limit of 0.0001%, and the S content is 0.0005% or more, and more preferably 0.0010% or more.

[Al: 0.001% to 1.500%]

Al is an element that makes steel brittle. When the Al content is more than 1.500%, a trouble such as cracking of a cast slab easily occurs and thus the Al content is 1.500% or less. In addition, when the Al content is increased, spot weldability is deteriorated and thus the Al content is more preferably 1.200% or less and even more preferably 1.000% or less. On the other hand, even when the lower limit of the Al content is not particularly limited, the effects of the embodiment are exhibited. Al is an unavoidable impurity present in the raw material in a very small amount and an Al content of less than 0.001% results in a greatly increased production cost. Therefore, the Al content is 0.001% or more. In addition, Al is an element that that is effective as a deoxidation material but in order to obtain a sufficient deoxidation effect, the Al content is more preferably 0.010% or more.

[N: 0.0001% to 0.0100%]

Since N is an element that forms a coarse nitride and deteriorates formability such as ductility, hole expansibility (stretch-flange property) and bendability, the amount of N added is necessary to be suppressed. When the N content is more than 0.0100%, deterioration in formability is significant and thus the upper limit of the N content is 0.0100%. In addition, an excessive amount of N causes generation of blowholes at the time of welding and the lower the content thereof is the better it is. From this viewpoint, the N content is preferably 0.0070% or less and more preferably 0.0050% or less. On the other hand, even when the lower limit of the N content is not particularly limited, the effects of the embodiment are exhibited. However, an N content of less than 0.0001% results in a greatly increased production cost. Therefore, the lower limit of the N content is 0.0001% or more. The N content is preferably 0.0003% or more and more preferably 0.0005% or more.

[O: 0.0001% to 0.0100%]

Since O forms an oxide and deteriorates formability such as ductility, hole expansibility (stretch-flange property) and bendability of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, the content thereof is necessary to be suppressed. When the O content is more than 0.0100%, deterioration in formability is significant and thus the upper limit of the upper limit of the O content is 0.0100%. Further, the O content is preferably 0.0050% or less and more preferably 0.0030% or less. Even when the lower limit of the O content is not particularly limited, the effects of the embodiment are exhibited. However, an O content of less than 0.0001% results in a greatly increased production cost. Therefore, the lower limit thereof is 0.0001%. The O content is preferably 0.0003% or more and more preferably 0.0005% or more.

Further, the following elements may be optionally added to the base steel sheet of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the embodiment.

First, the base steel sheet according to the embodiment may further contain one or two or more selected from Ti: 0.001% to 0.150%, Nb: 0.001% to 0.100%, and V: 0.001% to 0.300%.

[Ti: 0.001% to 0.150%]

Ti is an element that contributes to increasing the strength of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet by precipitate strengthening, fine grain strengthening due to suppression of ferrite grain growth, and dislocation strengthening through suppression of recrystallization. However, when the Ti content is more than 0.150%, the amount of precipitated carbonitrides is increased formability deteriorates. Thus, the Ti content is preferably 0.150% or less. In addition, from the viewpoint of formability, the Ti content is more preferably 0.080% or less. On the other hand, even when the lower limit of the Ti content is not particularly limited, the effects of the embodiment are exhibited. However, in order to sufficiently obtain the effect of high-strengthening by adding Ti, the Ti content is preferably 0.001% or more. In order to achieve higher strength of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, the Ti content is more preferably 0.010% or more.

[Nb: 0.001% to 0.100%]

Nb is an element that contributes to increasing the strength of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet by precipitate strengthening, fine grain strengthening due to suppression of ferrite grain growth, and dislocation strengthening through suppression of recrystallization. However, when the Nb content is more than 0.100%, the amount of precipitated carbonitrides is increased and formability of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet deteriorates. Thus, the Nb content is more preferably 0.100% or less. From the viewpoint of formability, the Nb content is more preferably 0.060% or less. On the other hand, even when the lower limit of Nb content is not particularly limited, the effects of the embodiment are exhibited. However, in order to obtain a sufficiently obtain the effect of high-strengthening by adding Nb, the Nb content is preferably 0.001% or more. In order to achieve higher strength of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, the Nb content is more preferably 0.005% or more.

[V: 0.001% to 0.300%]

V is an element that contributes to increasing the strength of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet by precipitate strengthening, fine grain strengthening due to suppression of ferrite grain growth, and dislocation strengthening through suppression of recrystallization. However, when the V content is more than 0.300%, the amount of precipitated carbonitrides is increased and formability deteriorates. Therefore, the V content is preferably 0.300% or less and more preferably 0.200% or less. On the other hand, even when the lower limit of the V content is not particularly limited, the effects of the embodiment are exhibited. In order to sufficiently obtain the effect of high-strengthening by adding V, the V content is preferably 0.001% or more and more preferably 0.010% or more.

In addition, the base steel sheet according to the embodiment may contain one or two or more selected from Cr 0.01 to 2.00%, Ni: 0.01% to 2.00%, Cu: 0.01% to 2.00%, Mo: 0.01% to 2.00%, B: 0.0001% to 0.0100%, and W: 0.01% to 2.00%.

[Cr 0.01% to 2.00%]

Cr is an element that suppresses phase transformation at a high temperature and is effective for high-strengthening of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet and may be added instead of part of C and/or Mn. However, when the Cr content is more than 2.00%, hot workability is impaired and productivity deteriorates. Thus, the Cr content is preferably 2.00% or less and more preferably 1.20% or less. On the other hand, even when the lower limit of the Cr content is not particularly limited, the effects of the embodiment are exhibited. However, in order to sufficiently obtain the effect of high-strengthening by adding Cr, the Cr content is preferably 0.01% or more and more preferably 0.10% or more.

[Ni: 0.01% to 2.00%]

Ni is an element that suppresses phase transformation at a high temperature and is effective for high-strengthening of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet and may be added instead of part of C and/or Mn. However, when a Ni content is more than 2.00%, weldability is impaired. Thus, the Ni content is preferably 2.00% or less and more preferably 1.20% or less. On the other hand, even when the lower limit of the Ni content is not particularly limited, the effects of the embodiment are exhibited. However, in order to sufficiently obtain the effect of high-strengthening by adding Ni, the Ni content is preferably 0.01% or more and more preferably 0.10% or more.

[Cu: 0.01% to 2.00%]

Cu is an element that that exists as fine particles in steel to thereby enhance strength of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet and can be added instead of part of C and/or Mn. However, when the Cu content is more than 2.00%, weldability is impaired. Thus, the Cu content is preferably 2.00% or less and more preferably 1.20% or less. On the other hand, even when the lower limit of the Cu content is not particularly limited, the effects of the embodiment are exhibited. However, in order to sufficiently obtain the effect of high-strengthening of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet by adding Cu, the Cu content is preferably 0.01% or more and more preferably 0.10% or more.

[Mo: 0.01% to 2.00%]

Mo is an element that suppresses phase transformation at a high temperature and is effective for high-strengthening of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet and may be added instead of part of C and/or Mn. However, when the Mo content is more than 2.00%, hot workability is impaired and productivity deteriorates. Thus, the Mo content is preferably 2.00% or less and more preferably 1.20% or less. On the other hand, even when the lower limit of the Mo content is not particularly limited, the effects of the embodiment are exhibited. However, in order to sufficiently obtain the effect of high-strengthening by adding Mo, the Mo content is preferably 0.01% or more and more preferably 0.05% or more.

[B: 0.0001% to 0.0100%]

B is an element that suppresses phase transformation at a high temperature and is effective for high-strengthening of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet and may be added instead of part of C and/or Mn. However, when the B content is more than 0.0100%, hot workability is impaired and productivity deteriorates. Thus, the B content is preferably 0.0100% or less. From the viewpoint of productivity, the B content is more preferably 0.0050% or less. On the other hand, even when the lower limit of the B content is not particularly limited, the effects of the embodiment are exhibited. However, in order to sufficiently obtain the effect of high-strengthening by adding B, the B content is preferably 0.0001% or more. In order to achieve further high-strengthening of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, the B content is more preferably 0.0005% or more.

[W: 0.01% to 2.00%]

W is an element that suppresses phase transformation at a high temperature and is effective for high-strengthening of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet and may be added instead of part of C and/or Mn. However, when the W content is more than 2.00%, hot workability is impaired and productivity deteriorates. Thus, the W content is preferably 2.00% or less and more preferably 1.20% or less. On the other hand, even when the lower limit of the W content is not particularly limited, the effects of the embodiment are exhibited. However, in order to sufficiently obtain the effect of high-strengthening by adding W, the W content is preferably 0.01% or more and more preferably 0.10% or more.

The base steel sheet in the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the embodiment may further contain, as another elements, one or two or more of Ca, Ce, Mg, Zr, La, and REM in a total amount of 0.0001% to 0.0100%. The reasons for adding these elements are as follows.

Note that REM stands for Rare Earth Metal and refers to an element belonging to the lanthanoid series. In this embodiment, REM or Ce is often added in misch metal and may contain elements of the lanthanoid series other than La and Ce in a complex form. The effects of the embodiment are exhibited even when elements of the lanthanoid series other than La and Ce are contained in the slab as impurities. Further, the effects of the embodiment are exhibited even when metals La and Ce are added to the slab.

Ca, Ce, Mg, Zr, La, and REM are elements effective for improving formability of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, and one or two or more of these elements can be added to the slab. However, when the total content of one or two or more of Ca, Ce, Mg, Zr, La, and REM is more than 0.0100%, there is a concern of ductility being impaired. Therefore, the total content of the respective elements is preferably 0.0100% or less and more preferably 0.0070% or less. On the other hand, even when the lower limit of the content of one or two or more of Ca, Ce, Mg, Zr, La, and REM is not particularly limited, the effects of the embodiment are exhibited. However, in order to sufficiently obtaining the effect of improving the formability of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, the total content of one or two or more of the respective elements is preferably 0.0001% or more. From the viewpoint of formability, the total content of one or two or more of Ca, Cc, Mg, Zr, La, and REM is more preferably 0.0010% or more.

In the chemical components of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the embodiment, a remainder other than the above-described respective elements includes Fe and impurities. Incidentally, a very small amount of each of Ti, Nb, V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Mo, B, and W described above being less than the above-described lower limit value is allowed to be contained as an impurity. In addition, regarding Ca, Ce, Mg, Zr, La, and REM, a minute amount of them being less than the above-described lower limit value of the total content of them is allowed to be contained as an impurity.

The reasons for defining the structure of the base steel sheet of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the embodiment of the present invention are as follows.

(Microstructure)

The microstructure in the base steel sheet of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the embodiment of the present invention is a microstructure in which, in a range of ⅛ thickness to ⅜ thickness centered at a position of ¼ thickness from the surface of the base steel sheet, a ferrite phase (hereinafter, referred to as a ferrite) is 40% or more and 97% or less by volume fraction, a hard structure comprising one or more of a bainite phase (hereinafter, referred to as a bainite), a bainitic ferrite phase (hereinafter, referred to as a bainitic ferrite), a fresh martensite phase (hereinafter, referred to as a martensite) and a tempered martensite phase (hereinafter, referred to as a tempered martensite) in total is 3% or more by volume fraction, a residual austenite phase (hereinafter, referred to as an residual austenite) is 0 to 8% by volume fraction (including 0%), a pearlite phase (hereinafter, referred to as a pearlite) and a coarse cementite phase (hereinafter, referred to as a cementite) in total is 0 to 8% by volume fraction (including 0%).

[Ferrite]

Ferrite is a structure which has excellent ductility. However, since the ferrite has low strength due to being soft, a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet having sufficient maximum tensile strength can not be obtained when the volume fraction of the ferrite is more than 97%. Therefore, the volume fraction of the ferrite is 97% or less. In order to improve maximum tensile strength of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, the volume fraction of the ferrite is preferably 92% or less and more preferably 85% or less. Further, in order to obtain a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet having a maximum tensile strength of more than 950 MPa, the volume fraction of the ferrite is preferably 80% or less and more preferably 70% or less. On the other hand, sufficient ductility can not be obtained when the volume fraction of the ferrite is less than 40%. Therefore, the volume fraction of the ferrite is 40% or more. The volume fraction of the ferrite is preferably 45% or more and more preferably 50% or more.

[Residual Austenite]

The residual austenite is a structure for greatly improving a balance between strength and ductility of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet. On the other hand, the residual austenite is transformed into hard martensite with deformation and this hard martensite acts as a fracture origin, and stretch-flange property deteriorates. Thus, an upper limit of the volume fraction of the residual austenite is 8%. From the viewpoint of formability of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, the volume fraction of the residual austenite is preferably low and 5% or less, and more preferably 0 to 3% (including 0%). The volume fraction of the residual austenite of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet is preferably lower and may be 0%.

[Hard Structure]

In order to improve maximum tensile strength of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, it is necessary that a volume fraction of the hard structure comprising one or more of a bainite, a bainitic ferrite, a fresh martensite and a tempered martensite in total is 3% or more. In order to improve maximum tensile strength of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, the volume fraction of the hard structure is preferably 7% or more and more preferably 15% or more. On the other hand, since the ductility of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet deteriorates when the volume fraction of the hard structure is excessively high, the volume fraction of the hard structure is limited to 60% or less. From this viewpoint, the volume fraction of the hard structure is preferably 55% or less and more preferably 50% or less.

[Bainitic Ferrite and/or Bainite]

Bainitic ferrite and/or bainite are a structure excellent in a balance between strength and formability of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet. It is preferable that the bainitic ferrite and/or the bainite are included 60% or less by volume fraction, in a steel sheet structure. In addition, the bainitic ferrite and/or the bainite are microstructures which have medial strength between a soft ferrite and a hard martensite, a tempered martensite and a residual austenite, are more preferably included 5% or more and are even more preferably included 10% or more, in viewpoint of stretch-flange property. On the other hand, yield stress excessively increases when the volume fraction of the bainitic ferrite and/or the bainite are more than 60%. Therefore, it is not preferable because the shape freezing property is concerned to deteriorate.

[Tempered Martensite]

Tempered martensite is a structure which increases tensile strength of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet greatly and may be included 60% or less by volume fraction, in the steel sheet structure. From viewpoint of tensile strength, it is preferable that the volume fraction of the tempered martensite is 5% or more. On the other hand, yield stress excessively increases when the volume fraction of the bainitic ferrite and/or the bainite are more than 60%. Therefore, it is not preferable because the shape freezing property is concerned to deteriorate.

[Fresh Martensite]

Fresh martensite increases tensile strength of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet greatly. On the other hand, the fresh martensite works as a fracture origin, and deteriorates stretch-flange property. Therefore, it is preferable that the fresh martensite is included in the steel sheet structure, by a volume fraction of 30% or less. In order to increase hole expansibility, the volume fraction of the fresh martensite is more preferably 20% or less and even more preferably 10% or less.

[Other Microstructures]

Microstructures other than the above described microstructures, such as pearlite and/or coarse cementite, may be included in the steel sheet structure of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the embodiment of the present invention. However, ductility deteriorates when the content of the pearlite and/or the coarse cementite in the steel sheet structure of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet increases. From this viewpoint, a volume fraction of the pearlite and/or the coarse cementite in the steel sheet structure is 8% or less in total. A total of the content of the pearlite and/or the coarse cementite is preferably 5% or less.

Further, in the steel sheet structure of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the embodiment of the present invention, the volume fraction of the residual austenite is limited to 3% or less in a surface layer range originating from an interface between a plated layer and a base steel sheet (base steel) and having 20 m depth in a steel sheet direction. And further, a volume fraction “V1” of the hard structure in the surface layer range is in a range of 0.10 to 0.90 times of a volume fraction “V2” of the hard structure in a range of ⅛ thickness to ⅜ thickness centered at a position of ¼ thickness from the surface of the base steel sheet.

[Residual Austenite in Vicinity of Interface of Plated Layer and Base Steel]

Residual austenite in the vicinity of the interface of the plated layer of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet and the base steel sheet is transformed into hard martensite with deformation and acts as a fracture origin at the time of bending deformation in which a large strain is added in the vicinity of a surface of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet. Therefore, the residual austenite in the vicinity of the interface of the plated layer of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet and the base steel sheet is a structure which influences deterioration of bendability and fatigue resistance. Form this viewpoint, it is necessary that the volume fraction of the residual austenite is limited to 0 to 3% (including 0%) in a surface layer range originating from an interface between a plated layer and a base steel sheet (base steel) and having 20 μm depth in a steel sheet direction. The volume fraction of the residual austenite in the above surface layer range is preferably lower and may be 0%.

[Hard Structure in Vicinity of Interface of Plated Layer and Base Steel]

Hard structure in the vicinity of the interface of the plated layer of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet and the base steel sheet (base steel) is a structure which enhances strength of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet at the surface thereof, improves fatigue limit strength greatly, and influences improvement of fatigue resistance. From this viewpoint, when a volume fraction of the hard structure in a surface layer range originating from an interface between a plated layer and a base steel and having 20 μm depth in a steel sheet direction is set as “V1” and a total volume fraction in a range of ⅛ thickness to ⅜ thickness centered at a position of ¼ thickness from the surface of the base steel sheet is set as “V2”, V1/V2 which is a ratio of these is set to be 0.10 or more, and it is necessary to sufficiently enhance the strength of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet at the surface thereof. In order to sufficiently improve fatigue resistance, V1/V2 is preferably 0.20 or more, more preferably 0.30 or more and even more preferably 0.40 or more. On the other hand, bendability can be improved, by controlling a fraction of the hard structure in a surface layer range originating from an interface between a plated layer and a base steel and having 20 μm depth in a steel sheet direction to a certain degree and decreasing strength in the vicinity of the surface of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet and improving ductility partially. From this viewpoint, in order to obtain good bendability, V1/V2 is 0.90 or less, preferably 0.85 or less and more preferably 0.80 or less.

Further, in the surface layer range originating from an interface between a plated layer of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the embodiment and a base steel and having 20 μm depth in a steel sheet direction, BCC grain boundaries of Fe and/or fine oxides including Si and/or Mn in grains may be contained. Formation of oxides including Si and/or Mn can be suppressed at the surface of the steel sheet which acts as the origin of peeling of the plated layer, the interface between the plated layer and a base steel sheet in other words, by antecedently forming fine oxides inside of the steel sheet at the surface layer range thereof.

The volume fraction of each structure contained in the base steel sheet of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the embodiment of the present invention can be measured by the method, for example described below.

The volume fraction of each of ferrite, bainitic ferrite, bainite, tempered martensite, fresh martensite, pearlite, and coarse cementite included in the steel sheet structure of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the present invention is determined as described below. The thickness cross section parallel to the rolling direction of the steel sheet is set as an observed section and a sample is collected, and the observed section of the sample is polished and etched with nital. The range of ⅛ thickness to ⅜ thickness centered at the position of ¼ of the thickness from the surface of the base steel sheet or the range of originating from an interface between a plated layer and a base steel sheet (base steel) and having 20 μm depth in a steel sheet direction are respectively observed with a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) to measure the area fractions of the structures and these area fractions can be considered as the volume fractions of the respective structures. However, when the plated layer is removed by the nital etching, a surface of the sample can be considered as the interface between the plated layer and the base steel.

The volume fraction of residual austenite included in the steel sheet structure of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the embodiment is evaluated, by performing high resolution crystal orientation analysis according to EBSD (Electron Bach-scattering Diffraction) method using a FE-SEM.

First, a thickness cross section parallel to the rolling direction is subjected to mirror polishing, in the range of ⅛ thickness to ⅜ thickness centered at the position of ¼ of the thickness from the surface of the base steel sheet or in the range of originating from the interface between the plated layer and the base steel and having 20 μm depth in a steel sheet direction respectively, an observation step is set to be 0.15 μm or less, and crystal orientations are observed in a range of 10000 μm² or more in total. Each observation point is determined whether it is steel of BCC (Body-centered Cubic) or steel of FCC (Face-centered Cubic), a point determined as FCC steel is set as a residual austenite and an area fraction of the residual austenite is measured. This area fraction can be considered as the volume fraction. The area fraction and the volume fraction are equivalent when a sufficient broad range is observed, in the above case, the area fraction of the residual austenite can be considered as the volume fraction thereof by observing crystal orientations in the range of 10000 μm² or more in total.

The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the embodiment has a refined layer in the base steel sheet at a side of interface contact to the plated layer. A part of the refined layer which is close to the plated layer directly contacts with the plated layer. The refined later is a region exists at an outermost layer of the base steel sheet and the refined later is a region in which the average grain size of ferrite phase constituting the refined layer is ½ or less of the average grain size of the ferrite phase in the lower layer of the refined layer in the base steel sheer. The boundary at which the average grain size of the ferrite in the refined layer is greater than ½ of the average grain size of the ferrite in the lower layer thereof is defined as a boundary between the refined later and the lower layer thereof.

The refined layer is in direct contact with the interface between the base steel sheet and the hot-dip galvanized layer. The average thickness of the refined layer is 0.1 to 5.0 μm. The average grain size of the ferrite in the refined layer is 0.1 to 3.0 μm. The refined layer contains one or two or more of oxides of Si and Mn and the maximum size of the oxide is 0.01 to 0.4 μm.

When the average thickness of the refined layer is 0.1 μm or more, crack generation or extension is suppressed at the time of working the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet. Therefore, the average thickness of the refined layer is 0.1 μm or more and is preferably 1 μm. In addition, when the average thickness of the refined layer is 5.0 μm or less, formation can be processed while suppressing excessive alloying in a plating bath. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent deterioration in plating adhesion caused by an excessive Fe content in the plated layer. For this reason, the average thickness of the refined layer is 5.0 μm or less and preferably 3.0 μm or less.

When the average grain size of the ferrite in the refined layer is 0.1 μm or more, cracking generation or extension is suppressed at the time of working the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet. Therefore, the average grain size of the ferrite in the refined layer is 0.1 μm or more and is more preferably 1 μm or more. In addition, when the average grain size of the ferrite in the refined layer is greater than 3.0 μm, the effect of suppressing crack generation or extension is limitative. Therefore, the average grain size of the ferrite in the refined layer is 3.0 μm or less and preferably 2.0 μm or less.

Examples of one or two or more of oxides of Si and Mn contained in the refined layer include one or two or more selected from SiO₂, Mn₂SiO₄, MnSiO₃, Fe₂SiO₄, FeSiO₃, and MnO.

When the maximum size of one or two or more of oxides of Si and Mn contained in the refined layer is 0.01 μm or more, the plated layer in which the formation of a ζ phase sufficiently proceeds with the formation of a refined layer can be formed. The maximum size of the oxide is preferably 0.05 μm or more. In addition, the refined layer in which the maximum size of the oxide is 0.4 μm or less can be formed while suppressing excessive alloying of the plated layer. Further, when the maximum size of the above oxides is 0.4 μm or less, formation can be processed while suppressing excessive alloying of the plated layer. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent deterioration in plating adhesion caused by an excessive Fe content in the plated layer with a formation of the plated layer. The maximum size of the oxide is preferably 0.2 μm or less.

The average thickness of the refined layer and the average grain size of the ferrite in the refined layer are measured according to the method described below. A thickness cross section parallel to the rolling direction of the base steel sheet is set as an observed section and a sample is collected from the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet. The observed section of the sample is processed by using CP (Cross section polisher) and a backscattered electron image is observed at a magnification of 5,000 with FE-SEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy) for measurement.

The maximum size of one or two or more of oxides of Si and Mn contained in the refined layer is measured according to the method described below. A thickness cross section parallel to the rolling direction of the base steel sheet is set as an observed section and samples are collected from the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet.

The observed section of each sample is processed with FIB (Focused Ion Beam) to prepare thin film samples. Thereafter, each thin film sample is observed with FE-TEM (Field Emission Transmission Electron Microscopy) at a magnification of 30,000. Each thin film sample is observed in five visual fields and the maximum size of the diameter of the oxide measured in the whole visual field is set as the maximum size of the oxide in the thin film sample.

[Plated Layer]

The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the embodiment of the present invention is a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet which a hot-dip galvanized layer is formed on a surface of a base steel sheet.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a Fe content is more than 0% to 5.0% or less and an Al content is more than 0% to 1.0% or less in the hot-dip galvanized layer. Furthermore, the hot-dip galvanized layer may contain one or two or more of Ag, B, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ge, Hf, I, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Si, Sn, Sr, Ta, Ti, V, W, Zr, and REM or one or two or more of these elements are mixed in the hot-dip galvanized layer. Even when the hot-dip galvanized layer contains one or two or more of these elements or one or two or more of these elements are mixed in the hot-dip galvanized layer as described above, the effects of the embodiment are not deteriorated and there is sometimes a preferable case in which the corrosion resistance and the workability are improved depending on the content of the element.

Further, the hot-dip galvanized layer includes columnar grains formed of a ζ phase and 20% or more of it is covered with a ζ phase in the entire interface between the plated layer and the base steel. Thus, the ratio ((A*/A)×100) of the interface (A*) between the above ζ phase and the base steel sheet is 20% or more in the entire interface (A) between the hot-dip galvanized plated layer and the base steel sheet. Further, a plated amount on one surface of the base steel sheet in the hot-dip galvanized layer is 10 g/m² or more and 100 g/m² or less.

[Fe Content in Hot-Dip Galvanized Layer More than 0% to 5.0% or Less]

Since the plating adhesion is deteriorated when the Fe content in the hot-dip galvanized layer becomes higher, it is necessary that the Fe content is more than 0% to 5.0% or less. In order to further enhance the plating adhesion, the Fe content in the plated layer is preferably 4.0% or less and more preferably 3% or less. The lower limit of the Fe content in the plated layer is not limited. However, when the Fe content is less than 0.5%, since the amount of ζ phase required to enhance adhesion is not sufficiently obtained in some cases, the Fe content in the plated layer is preferably 0.5% or more and more preferably 1.0% or more.

[Al Content in Hot-Dip Galvanized Layer: More than 0% to 1.0% or Less]

Since the plating adhesion is deteriorated when the Al content in the hot-dip galvanized layer becomes higher, it is necessary that the Al content is more than 0% to 1.0% or less. In order to further enhance the plating adhesion, the Al content in the plated layer is preferably 0.8% or less and more preferably 0.5% or less. The lower limit of the Al content in the plated layer is not limited. However, in order to set the Al content to less than 0.01%, it is required that the concentration of Al in a plating bath is lowered extremely. When the concentration of Al in a plating bath is lowered extremely, the alloying of the plated layer excessively proceeds and thus the Fe content in the plated layer is increased. And therefore, the plating adhesion deteriorates. For this reason, the Al content in the plated layer is preferably 0.01% or more. From this viewpoint, the Al content in the plated layer is more preferably 0.05% or more.

Furthermore, the hot-dip galvanized layer may contain one or two or more of Ag. B, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ge, Hf, I, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Si, Sn, Sr, Ta, Ti, V. W, Zr, and REM or one or two or more of these elements are mixed in the hot-dip galvanized layer. Even when the hot-dip galvanized layer contains one or two or more of these elements or one or two or more of these elements are mixed in the hot-dip galvanized layer as described above, the effects of the embodiment are not deteriorated and there is sometimes a preferable case in which the corrosion resistance and the workability are improved depending on the content of the element.

[ζ Phase]

FIG. 1 indicates an enlarged structure micrograph of a cross section of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the hot-dip galvanized layer of the embodiment is a plated layer plated on the surface of the base steel sheet (base steel), and includes columnar grains formed of a ζ phase (FeZn₁₃) of an alloy of Fe and Zn. Particularly, in the hot-dip galvanized layer of the embodiment, the ratio ((A*/A)×100) of the interface (A*) of the ζ phase in contact with the base steel sheet is 20% or more in the entire interface (A) between the hot-dip galvanized plated layer and the base steel sheet.

Accordingly, coarse oxides including Si and/or Mn, which act as the origin of peeling, and having a major axis of 0.2 μm or more are incorporated into the (phase from the surface of the base steel sheet. This makes the coarse oxides hardly work as a fracture origin and thus the adhesion of the plated layer is improved. From this viewpoint, the ratio of the interface between the ζ phase and the base steel with respect to the entire interface between the plated layer and the base steel sheet is preferably 25% or more and more preferably 30% or more. The upper limit of the ratio of the interface between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet with respect to the entire interface between the plated layer and the base steel is not particularly limited and may be 100%.

On the other hand, when the coarse oxides including Si and/or Mn and having the major axis of 0.2 μm or more are not incorporated into the ζ phase and the coarse oxides are present at the interface between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet, the effect of improving plating adhesion by the ζ phase cannot be sufficiently obtained and is not preferable. For this reason, the ratio of the interface between ζ grains (coarse oxide-containing ζ grains) in which coarse oxides are present among the ζ grains and the base steel sheet is preferably 50% or less, and more preferably 35% or less, with respect to the entire interface between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet. It is more preferable that the amount of the coarse oxides at the interface of the base steel sheet of the ζ phase is smaller. In the entire interface between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet, the ratio of the interface formed between the coarse oxide-containing ζ grain and the base steel sheet in the interface between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet is most preferably 0%.

When the major axis of the oxides including Si and/or Mn is 0.2 μm or more, cracking started from the oxides becomes remarkable and when the major axis of the oxides is less than 0.2 μm, the oxides hardly work as an origin of cracking. This is because a degree of stress concentration varies depending on the size of the oxide at the time of deformation of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet. Specifically, as the size of the oxides increases (the major axis becomes longer), stress is more easily concentrated at the time of deformation and the plated layer is more easily peeled off.

In addition, the hot-dip galvanized layer may include a δ1 phase (FeZn₇). However, in order to increase the fraction of the δ1 phase, the base steel sheet is required to be heated to alloy the plated layer after the base steel sheet is immersed in the plating bath, and the tensile properties of the base steel sheet are deteriorated due to heating. From this view point, it is preferable that the fraction of the δ1 phase is small. Particularly, the ratio of the interface of the δ1 phase in contact with the base steel sheet is preferably 20% or less in the entire interface between the plated layer and the base steel sheet.

The ratio of the interface between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet with respect to the entire interface between the plated layer and the base steel sheet in the embodiment can be obtained as follows.

That is, a thickness cross section parallel to the rolling direction of the base steel sheet is set as an observed section and a sample is collected. The observed section is subjected to mirror polishing and observation is performed until the total length L of the observed interfaces between the plated layer and the base steel sheet reaches 200 μm or more by using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). In the same visual field as the visual field in which L is observed, grains having a columnar shape are considered to be the ζ phase or the δ1 phase and the total length L1 of the interfaces between the ζ phase and the δ1 phase and the base steel sheet is measured. Subsequently, in the same visual field as the visual field in which L1 is observed, high resolution crystal orientation analysis is performed according to EBSD (Electron Bach-scattering Diffraction) method using a FE-SEM to identify the δ1 phase. Thus, the total length L2 of the interfaces between the δ1 phase and the base steel sheet is obtained. (L1−L2)/L is considered as the ratio of the interface between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet in the entire interface between the plated layer and the base steel sheet.

In the same manner, L2/L is considered as the ratio of the interface between the δ1 phase and the base steel sheet in the entire interface between the plated layer and the base steel sheet.

The ζ phase and the δ1 phase may be identified according to methods other than the above EBSD method. For example, the ζ phase and the δ1 phase may be determined based on a difference in amount of Zn by mapping the Zn element in the plated layer using a field emission electron probe micro analyzer (FE-EPMA).

In order to make the ζ phase appear to be clear, the observed section may be corroded using a corrosive liquid such as nital after the sample is subjected to mirror polishing.

The presence of the coarse oxides having the major axis of 0.2 μm or more is, by the above method of performing the cross section SEM observation, determined by observing major axes of photographed oxides.

The oxide-containing ζ grains are determined by a difference of tones, in observing a SEM backscattered electron (BSE) image of an interface alloy layer. Since a number of backscattered electron images increases with an atomic number of an atom, oxides appear to be darker than the surroundings. A position which an oxide is formed is depending on an annealing dew point, it is formed inside of a surface layer of a steel sheet not on a surface of the steel sheet when the dew point is higher (about 0° C. or more). After a plated layer is formed, alloying proceed between the plated layer and a base steel sheet, when Fe in the surface layer of the base steel sheet diffuse into the plated layer, oxides are absorbed to the plated layer from the surface layer to inside sequentially. In addition, the major axes of each of the determined oxides in the observed section are measured, and oxides having the major axis of 2 μm or more is determined as coarse oxides.

[Plated Amount of Hot-Dip Galvanizing: 10 to 100 g/m²]

Since sufficient corrosion resistance is not obtained when a plated amount on one surface of the base steel sheet in the hot-dip galvanized layer is small, it is preferable that the plated amount of the hot-dip galvanized layer on one surface of the base steel sheet is 10 g/m² or more. From the viewpoint of corrosion resistance, the plated amount is more preferably 20 g/m² or more and even more preferably 30 g/m² or more. On the other hand, when the plated amount of the plated layer is large, the wear of electrodes is significant at the time of performing spot welding, and reduction in a weld nugget diameter or deterioration in welded joint strength at the time of continuously performing spot welding occur. Therefore, the plated amount of the plated layer is 100 g/m² or less. From the viewpoint of continuous weldability, the plated amount is more preferably 93 g/m² or less and even more preferably 85 g/m² or less.

(Method of Producing Hot-Dip Galvanized Steel Sheet)

Next, the method of producing the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the embodiment will be described in detail.

The method of producing the hot-dip galvanized plated steel sheet according to the embodiment includes a hot rolling step which is a step of performing a hot rolling with heating the slab including the above chemical compositions 1,080° C. or higher and setting a rolling completion temperature to be in a range of 850 to 980° C. to make a hot rolled steel sheet and coiling as a coil, and which is a step of controlling a temperature of the hot rolled steel sheet step to satisfy the Expression (1), which will be described later, in a cooling step after the hot rolling step until 300° C., after a pickling after the hot rolling step, a cold rolling step of performing a cold rolling with a total rolling reduction of 85% or less, an annealing step including heating at an average heating rate of 1.0° C./second or more in a range of 600° C. to 750° C. and with a maximum heating temperature in a range of (Ac1+25°)° C. or more and Ac3° C. or less, and 750° C. or more, and cooling at an average cooling rate of 0.1 to 5.0° C./second in a range of 760° C. to 700° C. and an average cooling rate of 1.0° C./second or more in a range of 650° C. to 500° C., after the annealing step, a plating step which is a step of hot-dip galvanizing the steel sheet surface by immersing the steel sheet in a plating bath under the plating conditions of a steel sheet temperature of 440° C. to 480° C. and an amount of effective Al of 0.050% to 0.180% by mass in the plating bath when the steel sheet enters the plating bath having a plating bath temperature of 450° C. to 470° C., to form a plated layer, and after the plating step, a cooling step of cooling the steel sheet to 350° C. satisfying the Expression (2) which will be described later and a processing step of performing a bending-bending back deformation twice or more in total using a roll with a diameter of 50 mm to 800 mm after the steel sheet is further cooled to 100° C. or less.

Hereinafter, each production step will be described in detail.

In order to produce the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the embodiment of the present invention, first, a base steel sheet is produced.

In order to produce the base steel sheet, a slab including the above chemical components (composition) is casted.

For the slab to be supplied to hot rolling, a continuous casting slab or a slab produced by a thin slab caster or the like can be used.

[Hot Rolling Step]

In the hot rolling step, in order to suppress anisotropy of crystal orientation caused by casting, the heating temperature of the slab is preferably 1,080° C. or higher. The heating temperature of the slab is more preferably 1,150° C. or higher. On the other hand, the upper limit of the heating temperature of the slab is not particularly limited. In order to heat the slab at higher than 1,300° C., a large amount of energy needs to be applied, which causes a significant increase in the production cost. Thus, the heating temperature of the slab is preferably 1,300° C. or lower.

After heating the slab, hot rolling is performed. When the temperature when the hot rolling is completed (rolling completion temperature) is lower than 850° C., the rolling reaction force is high and thus it is difficult to stably obtain a predetermined thickness. Therefore, the temperature when the hot rolling is completed is preferably 850° C. or higher and more preferably 870° C. or higher. On the other hand, in order to set the temperature when the hot rolling is completed to be higher than 980° C., in the step from the completion of heating of the slab to the completion of hot rolling, a device for heating the steel sheet is necessary and a high cost is required. Therefore, the temperature when the hot rolling is completed is 980° C. or lower and more preferably 950° C. or lower.

Next, the hot-rolled steel sheet which has been subjected to hot rolling is coiled as a coil. The average cooling rate in the cooling process from the hot rolling to the coiling is preferably 10° C./second or more. This is because when transformation proceeds at a lower temperature, the grain size of the hot-rolled steel sheet is made fine and the effective grain size of the base steel sheet after cold rolling and annealing is made fine.

The coiling temperature of the hot-rolled steel sheet is preferably 450° C. or higher and 650° C. or lower. This is because in the microstructure of the hot-rolled steel sheet, pearlite and/or coarse cementite having a major axis of 1 μm or more is formed in a dispersed manner, strain introduced by cold rolling is localized. And reverse transformation to austenite having various crystal orientations occurs in the annealing step. Thus, the effective crystal orientation of the base steel sheet after annealing can be refined. When the coiling temperature is lower than 450° C., pearlite and/or coarse cementite may not be formed and thus this case is not preferable. On the other hand, when the coiling temperature is higher than 650° C., pearlite and ferrite are formed in a belt shape long in the rolling direction, and effective grains of the base steel sheet generated from the ferrite part after cold rolling and annealing tend to extend in the rolling direction and be coarse, which is not preferable.

Here, in the surface of the base steel sheet after an annealing, in order to control a hard structure to be in a predetermined volume fraction, in the hot rolling step, it is necessary to decarburize appropriately from the surface of the base steel sheet. Decarburization behavior may be controlled by an atmosphere control, however, it requires a large scale facility and a large burden of cost. For this reason, in the embodiment, decarburization behavior is controlled by controlling a cooling rate and a temperature of the steel sheet, in a section from a completion of a finishing rolling (rolling completion) to 300° C.

Temperature control of the base steel sheet is performed in arrange in which the temperatures is Ae 3* or less which is a temperature at which BCC phase of Fe at the surface of the case steel sheet is stable, in a section from the completion of a finishing rolling to 300° C. This is because, decarburization from BCC phase of Fe proceeds faster comparing to FCC phase which is a stable phase in a high temperature. In the embodiment, when the temperature of the base steel sheet is in a temperature range lower than 300° C., diffusion speeds of oxides are sufficiently slow, it can be considered that a decarburization proceeding speed does not influence the decarburization behavior, a temperature range of the temperature control of the base steel sheet in the hot rolling step is a section from the completion of a finishing rolling to 300° C.

Ae 3* can be obtained by the following formula.

Ae 3* [° C.]=885+31.7Si−29.3Mn+123.2Al−18.2Cr−40.0Ni−21.0Cu+12.6Mo

In the above formula, C, Si, Mn, Al, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Mo respectively represent an addition amount [% by mass] thereof.

Further, the decarburization behavior of the steel sheet is controlled in a first period from the completion of the finishing rolling to the coiling on a coil and a second period after the coiling to reaching to the room temperature respectively. This is because, a decarburization proceeds in the atmosphere in the first period, a decarburization in the second period proceeds in a condition that the coiled steel sheets contact and outer air does not intrude, decarburization speeds greatly vary in these terms.

Specifically, in order to decarburize the surface layer of the steel sheet appropriately, the temperature of the steel sheet is controlled to be in a range satisfying the following Expression (1) in the cooling step from the completion of the finishing rolling to 300° C. The Expression (1) is an expression related to a degree of progress of the decarburization behavior, the larger value of the Expression (1) indicates the decarburization proceeds.

In the Expression (1), t [second] represents the time elapsed from the completion of the finishing rolling, t1 [second] represents the time elapsed from the completion of the finishing rolling to the Ae 3* temperature, t2 [second] represents the time elapsed from the completion of the finishing rolling to the coiling, t3 [second] represents the time elapsed from the completion of the finishing rolling until the steel sheet temperature reaches 300° C. T (t) [° C.] represents a steel sheet temperature, W_(Si) [% by mass] and W_(Mn) [% by mass] respectively represent average amounts of each atom of Si and Mn in the entire steel sheet. Further, α, β, γ, δ are constant terms, and are 8.35×10, 2.20×10⁴, 1.73×10¹⁰, 2.64×10⁴ respectively.

$\begin{matrix} {0.8 \leq \begin{bmatrix} {{\int_{t\; 1}^{t\; 2}{\alpha \cdot {\exp \left( {- \frac{\beta}{{T(t)} + 273}} \right)} \cdot {tdt}}} +} \\ {\int_{t\; 2}^{t\; 3}{\gamma \cdot W_{Si}^{2.5} \cdot W_{Mn}^{0.5} \cdot {\exp \left( {- \frac{\delta}{{T(t)} + 273}} \right)} \cdot {tdt}}} \end{bmatrix}^{0.5} \leq 20.0} & {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} (1)} \end{matrix}$

In the above Expression (1), the first integral term in the brackets is a term related to the degree of progress of decarburization during cooling in the first period, and the second integral term in the brackets is a term related to the degree of progress of decarburization during cooling in the second period. In any of the term, decarburization proceeds as the temperature of the base steel sheet is high and a retaining time is long. Particularly in the second period, since oxygen which is an element for promoting decarburization hardly exists in the atmosphere and decarburization proceeds by oxygen which is attracted by Si and Mn in a steel from a surface layer of a scale layer, the second integral term includes the influence of the amounts of Si and Mn, and the value of the Expression (1) increases as the amounts of Si and Mn in the steel increases, indicating that decarburization proceeds.

In the cooling step after the completion of finish rolling, when the value of the above Expression (1) is less than 0.8, the surface layer of the base steel sheet is hardly decarburized, and V1/V2 which is the ratio of the volume fraction V1 of the hard structure in the surface part and the volume fraction V2 of the hard structure centered at the position of ¼ thickness from the surface of the base steel sheet is more than 0.90 and the flexibility deteriorates, therefore cooling is performed so that the value of the above Expression (1) is 0.8 or more. From this viewpoint, it is preferable to perform cooling so that the value of the above Expression (1) is 1.0 or more, more preferably 1.3 or more. On the other hand, when the value of the above Expression (1) is more than 20.0, the surface layer part of the steel sheet is excessively decarburized, V1/V2 becomes less than 0.30, and the fatigue resistance of the steel sheet significantly deteriorates, therefore cooling is performed so that the value of the above Expression (1) is 20.0 or less. From this viewpoint, it is preferable to perform cooling so that the value of the above Expression (1) is 15.0 or less, more preferably 10.0 or less.

Next, pickling of the hot-rolled steel sheet produced in the above-described manner is performed. The pickling is performed for removing oxides on the surface of the hot-rolled steel sheet. Thus, the pickling is important to improve plating adhesion of the base steel sheet. The pickling may be performed at once or a plurality of times separately.

[Cold Rolling Step]

Next, the hot-rolled steel sheet after pickling is subjected to cold rolling to obtain a cold-rolled steel sheet.

In the cold rolling, when the total rolling reduction is more than 85%, the ductility of the base steel sheet is impaired and a risk of breaking of the base steel sheet during the cold rolling becomes higher. Therefore, the total rolling reduction is 85% or less. From this viewpoint, the total rolling reduction is preferably 75% or less and more preferably 70% or less. The lower limit of the total rolling reduction in the cold rolling step is not particularly limited. When the total rolling reduction is less than 0.05%, the shape of the base steel sheet is not uniform and plating adheres unevenly, so that an external appearance of the steel sheet is impaired. Therefore, the total rolling reduction is preferably 0.05% or more and more preferably 0.10% or more. The cold rolling is preferably performed in a plurality of passes, but any number of passes of the cold rolling and any rolling reduction distribution to each pass are applicable.

When the total rolling reduction in the cold rolling is within a range of more than 10% and less than 20%, recrystallization does not progress sufficiently in the following annealing step. Therefore, coarse grains in which malleability is lost by including a large amount of dislocations remain near the surface, and bendability and fatigue resistance properties of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet may be deteriorated in some cases. In order to avoid this, it is effective to make malleability remain by reducing the total rolling reduction and reducing accumulation of dislocations to the grains. Alternatively, it is also effective to turn the processed structure into recrystallized grains having a small amount of accumulation of dislocations inside by reducing the total rolling reduction and making recrystallization sufficiently proceed in the annealing step. From the viewpoint of reducing the accumulation of dislocations to the grains, the total rolling reduction in the cold rolling is preferably 10% or less and more preferably 5.0% or less. On the other hand, in order to make recrystallization sufficiently proceed in the annealing step, the total rolling reduction is preferably 20% or more and more preferably 30% or more.

[Annealing Step]

In the embodiment of the present invention, the cold-rolled steel sheet is subjected to annealing. In the embodiment of the present invention, a continuous annealing and plating line having a preheating zone, a reduction zone, and a plating zone is used. While performing the annealing process, the steel sheet is allowed to pass though the preheating zone and the reduction zone and before the steel sheet reaches the plating zone, the annealing step is completed. Then, the plating step is preferably performed in the plating zone.

As described above, in the case of using a continuous annealing and plating line in the annealing step and the plating step, for example, the method described below is preferably used.

First, the steel sheet is allowed to pass through the preheating zone in which the air ratio in the mixed gas of air and fuel gas used for a preheating burner is 0.7 to 1.2, while heating the steel sheet to a steel sheet temperature of 400° C. to 800° C.

By the above step, oxides are formed at the steel sheet surface part. Here, it is a ratio between the volume of air included in the mixed gas per unit volume and the volume of air which is theoretically required to cause complete combustion of fuel gas contained in the mixed gas per unit volume. Next, by heating the steel sheet to 750° C. or more in the preheating zone in which a ratio between H₂O and H₂ is P(H₂O)/P(H₂):0.0001 to 2.0, it can be a step of performing cooling after a reduction of oxides formed in the preheating zone. And then, a plating step after the annealing step can be a step of performing a hot-dip galvanizing a steel sheet in a condition of immersing the steel sheet in a plating bath under conditions of a plating bath temperature of 450° C. to 470° C., a steel sheet temperature of 440° C. to 480° C. when the steel sheet enters the plating bath, and an amount of effective Al of 0.05% to 0.18% by mass in the plating bath.

The heating rate in the annealing step is related to the progress of decarburization in the steel sheet surface part through the treatment time in the preheating zone. When the heating rate is low, the steel sheet is exposed to an oxidation atmosphere for a long period of time and thus decarburization proceeds. Particularly, the heating rate at 600° C. to 750° C. is important, in order to secure the treatment time in the preheating zone to promote ζ phase formation, the average heating rate is preferably 10° C./second or less. On the other hand, when the heating rate at 600° C. to 750° C. is too slow, oxidation excessively proceeds and coarse oxides are formed inside the steel sheet in some cases. To avoid formation of coarse oxides inside the steel sheet, the average heating rate is 1.0° C./second or more at the temperature range.

In the preheating zone, the steel sheet surface part is subjected to an oxidation treatment for forming a Fe oxide coating film having an appropriate thickness. At this time, the steel sheet is allowed to pass through the preheating zone in which the air ratio in the mixed gas of air and fuel gas used for a preheating burner, which will be described below, is 0.7 or more, while heating the steel sheet to a steel sheet temperature of 400° C. to 800° C.

The term “air ratio” is a ratio between “the volume of air included in the mixed gas per unit volume” and “the volume of air which is theoretically required to cause complete combustion of fuel gas contained in the mixed gas per unit volume”, and is represented by the following expression.

“Air ratio”=[volume of air included in the mixed gas per unit volume (m³)]/[volume of air which is theoretically required to cause complete combustion of fuel gas contained in the mixed gas per unit volume (m³))]}

In the embodiment, the base steel sheet which is allowed to pass through the preheating zone is heated under the above conditions to form a Fe oxide coating film (oxide) having a thickness of 0.01 to 5.0 μm on the surface layer of the base steel sheet. The Fe oxide coating film (oxide) formed on the steel sheet surface is reduced in the reduction zone and becomes a surface excellent in plating adhesion.

In the case in which the air ratio is more than 1.2 and too large in the steel sheet surface part, excessive Fe oxide coating film is formed on the steel sheet surface part and after reduction, the decarburized layer becomes excessively thick. The oxide coating film is reduced in the reduction zone and becomes a surface excellent in plating adhesion. However, in the case in which air ratio is less than 0.7 and is too small, a predetermined oxide cannot be obtained.

When the steel sheet temperature for allowing the steel sheet to pass through the preheating zone is lower than 400° C., a sufficient oxide film cannot be formed. On the other hand, when the steel sheet temperature for allowing the steel sheet to pass through the preheating zone is a high temperature of higher than 800° C., the oxide coating film excessively grows up and it will be difficult to set a thickness of the decarburized layer within a predetermined range Accordingly, the steel sheet temperature for allowing the steel sheet to pass through the preheating zone is 800° C. or lower and more preferably 750° C. or lower.

The maximum heating temperature in the annealing step is an important factor for controlling the fraction of the microstructure related to the formability of the steel sheet to be within a predetermined range. When the maximum heating temperature is low, a large amount of coarse iron-based carbides is left unmelted in the steel and thus formability is deteriorated. When the maximum heating temperature is lower than 750° C., the coarse iron-based carbides in a hot rolled steel sheet are not sufficiently melted and remain in a product sheet and there is a concern of ductility being impaired. In order to sufficiently solid-dissolve the iron-based carbides to enhance formability, the maximum heating temperature is (Ac1 point+25°)° C. or higher and 750° C. or higher, and the maximum heating temperature is preferably (Ac1 point+50°)° C. or higher. On the other hand, a ferrite fraction in steel significantly decreases when the maximum heating temperature is more than Ac3 point, the maximum heating temperature is Ac3 point or less. Further, from the viewpoint of plating adhesion, it is preferable that the maximum heating temperature is lower for reducing oxides on the surface of the base steel. From this viewpoint, the maximum heating temperature is preferably 850° C. or lower and more preferably 830° C. or lower.

The Ac1 point and Ac3 point of the steel sheet are a starting point and a completion point of austenite reverse transformation. Specifically, the Ac1 point and Ac3 point are obtained by cutting off a small piece from the steel sheet after hot rolling, heating the piece to 1,200° C. at 10° C./second, and measuring the amount of volume expansion during heating.

The temperature preferably reaches the maximum heating temperature in the annealing step (750° C. or higher) in the reduction zone. In the reduction zone, the thin Fe oxide coating film formed on the steel sheet surface in the preheating zone is reduced to enhance plating adhesion. Therefore, a ratio between a water vapor partial pressure P(H₂O) and a hydrogen partial pressure P(H₂), P(H₂O)/P(H₂), in the atmosphere in the reduction zone is 0.0001 to 2.00. When P(H₂O)/P(H₂) is less than 0.0001, Si and/or Mn oxides which act as a plating peeling origin are formed on the outermost layer. On the other hand, when the P(H₂O)/P(H₂) is more than 2.00, refinement excessively proceeds in the steel sheet surface and alloying of the plated layer excessively proceeds. Thus, plating adhesion is deteriorated. Further, when the P(H₂O)/P(H₂) is more than 3.00, decarburization excessively proceeds and a hard phase of the base steel sheet surface is remarkably reduced. From this viewpoint, P(H₂O)/P(H₂) is more preferably within a range of 0.002 to 1.50 and more preferably within a range of 0.005 to 1.20.

As described above, when P(H₂O)/P(H₂) is 0.0001 to 2.00, in a case that water vapor is added into a reduction atmosphere, Si and/or Mn oxides which act as a plating peeling origin are not formed on the outermost layer, and Si and Mn form fine oxides inside the steel sheet surface alternatively. A size of the fine oxides is 0.01 μm or more and 0.4 μm or less in the above condition. In addition, water vapor in the reduction atmosphere causes the base steel surface to be decarburized and thus the base steel surface is turned into ferrite. Since these Si—Mn inside oxides suppress the growth of Fe recrystallization during a reduction annealing, on the surface of the base steel, a refined layer having an average thickness of 0.1 μm or more and 5 μm or less and having a ferrite having an average grain size of 0.1 μm or more and 3 μm or less is formed.

In the annealing step, at a cooling step before the plating step after the temperature reaches the maximum heating temperature and before the steel sheet reaches a plating bath (cooling step before plating), a predetermined microstructure is obtained by controlling a temperature of a steel sheet in two steps of a temperature range of 760° C. to 700° C. and a temperature range of 650° C. to 500° C. First, in order to sufficiently promote a formation of ferrite, an average cooling rate in a range of 760° C. to 700° C. is defined. In some cases, formation of ferrite may not be sufficiently proceeded when the average cooling rate in the range of 760° C. to 700° C. is more than 5.0° C./second, the average cooling rate is 5.0° C./second or less. In order to promote a formation of ferrite, the average cooling rate is preferably 3.5° C./second or less and more preferably 2.5° C./second or less. In some cases, excessive pearlite may be formed when the average cooling rate in the range of 760° C. to 700° C. is less than 0.3° C./second, the average cooling rate is 0.3° C./second or more. In order to avoid a formation of pearlite, the average cooling rate is preferably 0.5° C./second or more and more preferably 0.7° C./second or more.

Next, in order to avoid a formation of excessive pearlite and/or coarse cementite, an average cooling rate in a range of 650° C. to 500° C. is defined. When the average cooling rate in the range of 650° C. to 500° C. is less than 1.0° C./second, pearlite and/or coarse cementite is formed greatly, the average cooling rate is 1.0° C./second or more. Since it is preferable that pearlite and/or coarse cementite is not included in a steel, in order to avoid a formation of these structures sufficiently, the average cooling rate is preferably 2.0° C./second or more and more preferably 3.0° C./second or more. Although the upper limit of the average cooling rate in a range of 650° C. to 500° C. is not particularly provided, an excessively high average cooling rate is not preferable since a special cooling facility and a coolant which does not interfere with the plating step are required to obtain the excessively high average cooling rate. From this viewpoint, the average cooling rate in the above-described temperature range is preferably 100° C./second or less and more preferably 70° C./second or less.

Subsequent to the cooling step before plating, in order to obtain tempered martensite, in a period after the steel sheet temperature reaches 500° C. and before the steel sheet reaches a plating bath, as a martensitic transformation treatment, the steel sheet may be retained in a predetermined temperature range for a predetermined period of time. Regarding the martensitic transformation treatment temperature, a martensitic transformation starting temperature Ms point is set as an upper limit and the lower limit of the martensitic transformation treatment temperature is 50° C. In addition, the martensitic transformation treatment time is 1 second to 100 seconds. The martensite obtained in the treatment enters a plating bath at a high temperature in the plating step and then is changed into tempered martensite.

The Ms point is calculated by the following expression.

Ms Point [° C.]=541−474C/(1−VF)−15Si−35Mn−17Cr−17Ni+19Al

In the above expression, VF represents the volume fraction of ferrite, and each of C, Si, Mn, Cr, Ni, and Al represents the amount [% by mass] of each element added.

It is difficult to directly measure the volume fraction of ferrite during production. Therefore, when the Ms point is determined in the embodiment, a small piece is cut off from the cold-rolled steel sheet before the steel sheet is allowed to pass through the continuous annealing and plating line. The small piece is annealed at the same temperature as in the case in which the small piece is allowed to pass through the continuous annealing and plating line and a change in the volume of the ferrite of the small piece is measured so that a numerical value calculated using the result is used as the volume fraction VF of the ferrite.

Further, in order to promote the formation of bainite, in a period after the steel sheet temperature reaches 500° C. and before the steel sheet reaches a plating bath, the steel sheet may be retained at a predetermined temperature range for a predetermined period of time as a bainitic transformation treatment.

When the bainitic transformation treatment temperature is more than 500° C., a formation of pearlite and/or coarse cementite proceed. Therefore, the bainitic transformation treatment temperature is 500° C. or lower. When the bainitic transformation treatment temperature is lower than 350° C., the transformation is not promoted. Therefore, the bainitic transformation treatment temperature is 350° C. or higher. The bainitic transformation treatment time is 10 seconds or more, in order to promote the transformation sufficiently. The bainitic transformation treatment time is 500 seconds or less, in order to suppress formation of pearlite and/or coarse cementite.

After the cooling step before plating, in the case in which both the bainitic transformation treatment and the martensitic transformation treatment are performed, regarding the treatment order, the martensitic transformation treatment and the bainitic transformation treatment are performed.

[Plating Step]

Next, the base steel sheet obtained as described above is immersed in a plating bath.

The plating bath mainly includes zinc and has a composition in which the amount of effective Al, which is a value obtained by subtracting the total amount of Fe from the total amount of Al in the plating bath, is 0.050 to 0.180% by mass. When the amount of effective al in the plating bath is less than 0.050%, the entering of Fe into the plated layer excessively proceeds to impair plating adhesion. Thus, it is required that the amount of effective Al is 0.050% or more. From this viewpoint, the amount of effective Al in the plating bath is preferably 0.065% or more and more preferably 0.070% or more. On the other hand, when the amount of effective Al in the plating bath is more than 0.180%, Al-based oxides are formed at the boundary between the base steel sheet and the plated layer and the movement of Fe and Zn atoms is inhibited at the same boundary. Thus, ζ phase formation is suppressed and plating adhesion is significantly deteriorated. From this viewpoint, it is required that the amount of effective Al in the plating bath is 0.180% or less and the amount of effective Al is preferably 0.150% or less and more preferably 0.135% or less.

One or two or more elements of Ag, B, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ge, Hf, I, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Si, Sn, Sr, Ta, Ti, V, W, Zr, and REM may be mixed in the plating bath and there is a preferable case in which the corrosion resistance or workability of the hot-dip galvanized layer is improved according to the content of each element in the plating bath or the like.

In addition, the temperature of the plating bath is 450° C. to 470° C. When the temperature of the plating bath is lower than 450° C., the viscosity of the plating bath is excessively increased and thus it is difficult to control the thickness of the plated layer so that the external appearance of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet is impaired. On the other hand, when the temperature of the plating bath is higher than 470° C., a large amount of fumes is generated, and it is difficult to realize safe production, so that the temperature of the plating bath is 470° C. or lower.

In addition, the steel sheet temperature when the steel sheet enters the plating bath is lower than 440° C., it is required to give a large quantity of heat to the plating bath to stabilize the temperature of the plating bath at 450° C. or higher, which is practically inappropriate. On the other hand, when the steel sheet temperature when the steel sheet enters in the plating bath is higher than 480° C., it is required to introduce a facility of removing a large quantity of heat from the plating bath to stabilize the temperature of the plating bath at 470° C. or lower, which is inappropriate in terms of production costs. Accordingly, in order to stabilize the temperature of the plating bath, the temperature of the base steel sheet when the base steel sheet enters the plating bath is preferably 440° C. or higher and 480° C. or lower. In addition, in order to control a ζ phase formation behavior to be appropriate, it is more preferable that the temperature when the base steel sheet enters the plating bath is controlled to 450° C. or higher and 470° C. or lower.

When the bath temperature of the plating bath is within a range of 450 to 470° C., the embodiment can be carried out. However, when the bath temperature is not stabilized within a range of 450 to 470° C., the ζ phase in the plating bath becomes not uniform, which causes non-uniformity in the external appearance and adhesion of the plated layer. Therefore, in an actual production, the bath temperature is preferably any value in a range of 450 to 470° C. and is constant. Therefore, it is preferable that the entering temperature is coincident with the bath temperature. However, due to the limit of controllability of an actual production facility, the entering temperature is preferably in a range of the bath temperature of the plating bath ±4° C.

Depending on the production line of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, there is a case that a device necessary for performing the “cooling step after plating” to be described later is not provided and the manufacturing conditions of the embodiment can not be performed in some cases. In that case, by appropriately controlling the immersion time of the plating bath, it is possible to manufacture the same product as in the embodiment. In other words, if the immersion time of the steel sheet in the plating bath is extended, it is possible to form the ζ phase at the interface between the plating layer and the base steel sheet as in the case of performing the “cooling step after plating”.

The necessary immersion time depends on the amount of Al in the plating bath, however, it is necessary that the immersion time is 3 seconds or more. It is preferable that the immersion time is 5 seconds or more, and is more preferably 10 seconds or more, even more preferably 20 seconds or more.

In order to have an appropriate plated amount after immersing the steel sheet in the plating bath, an excessive amount of zinc on the surface is preferably removed by blowing a high pressure gas mainly including nitrogen onto the steel sheet surface.

[Cooling Step after Plating]

After the steel sheet is immersed in a plating bath, in the cooling step of cooling to room temperature after plating, by controlling a cooling treatment so that it satisfies the following Expression (2), an appropriate amount of ζ phase is obtained in the plated layer.

T(t) [° C.] represents a steel sheet temperature, t[second] represents the time elapsed from the time point when the steel sheet is taken out from the plating bath as a starting point, t4[second] represents the time elapsed from the time point when the steel sheet is taken out from the plating bath as a starting point and until the steel sheet temperature reaches 350° C., and W*_(AI) [% by mass] represents the amount of effective Al in the plating bath. In addition, ε, θ, and μ each represents constant terms, each of which is 2.62×10⁷, 9.13×10³, and 1.0×10⁻¹.

$\begin{matrix} {0.40 \leq \left\lbrack {\int_{t\; 0}^{t\; 4}{{ɛ \cdot \exp}{\left\{ {- \frac{\theta \cdot \left( \frac{W_{A\; 1}^{*}}{\mu} \right)^{0.2}}{T(t)}} \right\} \cdot {tdt}}}} \right\rbrack^{0.5} \leq 2.20} & {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} (2)} \end{matrix}$

The above Expression (2) is an expression related to a ζ phase formation behavior and as the value of the above Expression (2) increases, ζ phase formation proceeds in the plated layer. As the steel sheet temperature increases and the treatment time increases, the value of the above Expression (2) increases. In addition, when the amount of effective Al in the plated layer is increased, the value of the above Expression (2) is decreased and ζ phase formation is inhibited. When the steel sheet temperature is within a temperature range of 350° C. or lower, the diffusion of Fe atoms from the base steel sheet to the plated layer hardly occur and ζ phase formation is nearly stopped. Therefore, the above Expression (2) is used for calculation at a steel sheet temperature within a range of 350° C. or higher.

In the cooling step after plating which is performed after the immersing the steel sheet in the plating bath, when the value of the above Expression (2) is less than 0.40, a sufficient amount of the ζ phase is not obtained in the plated layer and plating adhesion is impaired. Therefore, it is necessary to control the cooling treatment so that the value of Expression (2) is 0.40 or more. When the value of the above Expression (2) is 0.40 or more, ζ phase formation is sufficiently promoted and the ratio ((A*/A)×100) of the interface (A*) between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet in the entire interface (A) between the hot-dip galvanized layer and the base steel sheet is 20% or more. In addition, when the value of the above Expression (2) is 0.40 or more, the ratio ((A**/A*)×100) of the interface (A**) formed between the ζ grains in which coarse oxides are present and the base steel sheet in the interface (A*) between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet is 50% or less.

In order to further enhance plating adhesion, it is preferable that the cooling treatment is controlled such that the value of the above Expression (2) is 0.50 or more, and it is more preferable that the cooling treatment is controlled such that the value of the above Expression (2) is 0.60 or more. On the other hand, when the value of the above Expression (2) in the cooling treatment is excessively large, alloying of the plated layer proceeds and the Fe content in the plated layer is excessively increased. Thus, plating adhesion is impaired. From the viewpoint, it is required that he cooling treatment is performed such that the value of the above Expression (2) is 2.20 or less. In order to further enhance plating adhesion, it is preferable that the cooling treatment is controlled such that the value of the above Expression (2) is 2.00 or less and it is more preferable that the cooling treatment is controlled such that the value of the above Expression (2) is 1.80 or less.

Here, when the temperature of the steel sheet is increased after the steel sheet is taken out from the plating bath, the value of the above Expression (2) is significantly increased and plating adhesion is deteriorated. In addition, the microstructure of the steel sheet is reformed and predetermined hard structure cannot be obtained and strength deteriorates. Further, coarse carbides are formed and there is a concern of deterioration in formability of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet. Therefore, the steel sheet temperature after the steel sheet is taken out from the plating bath is not allowed to be higher than the higher temperature of the steel sheet temperature before the steel sheet is immersed in the plating bath and the plating bath temperature.

On the other, as shown in a general method of producing a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, when the steel sheet is rapidly cooled after the steel sheet is immersed in the plating bath, the value of the above Expression (2) is significantly decreased. As a result, a sufficient amount of the ζ phase is not obtained and plating adhesion is deteriorated. In order to set the value of the above Expression (2) to be within a predetermined range, for example, after the steel sheet is taken out from the plating bath, the steel sheet may be subjected to an isothermal retention treatment for a predetermined period of time and then rapidly cooled.

In addition, as long as the value of the above Expression (2) is set to be within a predetermined range, another optional temperature control may be performed. That is, as long as the temperature control for setting the value of the above Expression (2) to be within the range of the embodiment, any cooling control form may be adopted. For example, a cooling form of rapidly cooling after an isothermal retention treatment may be used or a cooling form of almost constant slow cooling may be used.

By the above cooling treatment which satisfies the Expression (2), cooling at an average cooling rate of 1.0° C./second or more to 250° C. or lower may be performed after a sufficient amount of the ζ phase is obtained in the plated layer, in order to obtain the hard structure. In order to obtain a fresh martensite phase and a tempered martensite phase, the average cooling rate is preferably 3.0° C./second or more and more preferably 5.0° C./second or more.

Further, a reheating treatment may be performed in order to obtain tempered martensite after the steel sheet is cooled to 250° C. or lower. The treatment temperature and the treatment time of the reheating treatment may be appropriately selected according to desired properties. However, a sufficient effect cannot be obtained at a reheating treatment temperature of lower than 250° C. On the other hand, when the reheating treatment temperature is higher than 350° C., the plated layer changes in quality, and there is a concern that plating adhesion deteriorates. Therefore, the reheating treatment temperature is preferably 250° C. or higher and 350° C. or lower. In addition, when the treatment time of the reheating treatment is longer than 1,000 seconds, the effect of the treatment is saturated and thus the treatment time is preferably 1,000 seconds or shorter.

A bainitic transformation treatment in which the steel sheet is retained for 500 seconds or shorter within a temperature range of 250° C. to 350° C. to obtain residual austenite may be performed after a sufficient amount of the ζ phase is obtained in the plated layer by the cooling treatment satisfying the above Expression (2). When a treatment temperature is lower than 250° C., martensite is formed and a sufficient amount of residual austenite cannot be obtained. On the other hand, when the bainitic transformation treatment temperature is higher than 350° C., there is a concern that an excessively large amount of residual austenite is obtained. Further, when the treatment time is more than 500 seconds, coarse carbides are formed from the residual austenite and there is a concern that formability significantly deteriorates.

After the bainitic transformation treatment (retained for 500 seconds or shorter within a temperature range of 250° C. to 350° C.), in order to further stabilize the residual austenite, the steel sheet may be cooled to 250° C. or lower and then a reheating treatment may be performed. The treatment temperature and the treatment time of the reheating treatment may be appropriately selected according to desired properties. However, a sufficient effect cannot be obtained at a reheating treatment temperature of lower than 250° C. When the reheating treatment temperature is higher than 350° C., the residual austenite is decomposed and becomes carbides, and there is a concern that the properties significantly deteriorate. Therefore, the treatment temperature is preferably 350° C. or lower.

In addition, when the treatment time of the reheating treatment is longer than 1,000 seconds, the effect of the treatment is saturated and thus the treatment time is preferably 1,000 seconds or shorter.

[Processing Step]

Next, after the steel sheet is cooled to 100° C. or less, a bending-bending back deformation is applied to the plated steel sheet in order to reduce a residual austenite in the surface layer of the base steel sheet. The bending can be applied by using a roll with a diameter of 50 mm to 800 mm. When the roll diameter of the roll is less than 50 mm, a large amount of strain is introduced in the surface layer of the base steel sheet by the bending deformation and therefore formability of the steel sheet deteriorates. When the roll diameter of the roll is more than 800 mm, the amount of strain in the surface layer of the base steel sheet is small and therefore the residual austenite is not sufficiently reduced. Since the bending-bending back deformation reduces the residual austenite at the surfaces in both sides of the base steel sheet and it is necessary that deformation which each of the sides of the base steel sheet is set as a bending-outward is applied to once or more times on both sides respectively, therefore it is necessary that the bending-bending back deformation is applied twice or more in total. By this step, the residual austenite at the surfaces in both sides of the base steel sheet can be set within a predetermined range.

The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the embodiment can be produced by the above-described production method. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the embodiment of the present invention, a coating film formed of a composite oxide including a phosphorus oxide and/or phosphorus may be applied to the surface of the zinc-plated layer of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet obtained by the above-described.

The coating film formed of a composite oxide including a phosphorus oxide and/or phosphorus can function as a lubricant when the steel sheet is worked and can protect the zinc-plated layer formed on the surface of the base steel sheet.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, cold rolling may be performed on the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet cooled at room temperature at a rolling reduction of 3.00% or less for shape correction. The cold rolling may be performed at any stage such as before or after the bending-bending back deformation, or in the middle of the bending-bending back deformation.

The method of producing the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention is preferably applied to the production of a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet in which the thickness of the base steel sheet is 0.6 mm or more and less than 5.0 mm. When the thickness of the base steel sheet is less than 0.6 mm, it is difficult to keep the shape of the base steel sheet flat and the thickness is not appropriate in some cases. In addition, when the thickness of the base steel sheet is 5.0 mm or more, the control of cooling in the annealing step and the plating step may be difficult.

EXAMPLES

Examples of the present invention will be described below. The conditions in the examples are just an illustration which is employed for confirming the feasibility and effects of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to this illustration of conditions. The present invention can employ various conditions so long as not deviating from the gist of the present invention and achieving the object of the present invention.

Slabs having the chemical components (composition) A to BY shown in Tables 1 to 6 were casted and hot-rolled under the conditions (the slab heating temperature, the rolling completion temperature) shown in Tables 7 to 10. Next, the hot-rolled steel sheets were cooled under the conditions (the average cooling rate from hot rolling completion to coiling, and the coiling temperature, and Expression (1)) shown in Tables 7 to 10, and thus hot-rolled steel sheets were obtained.

Thereafter, the hot-rolled steel sheets were subjected to pickling and cold rolling under the condition (rolling reduction) shown in Tables 7 to 10 and thus cold-rolled steel sheets were obtained.

Next, the obtained cold-rolled steel sheets were subjected to annealing under the conditions (the air ratio in the preheating zone, the partial pressure ratio (P(H₂O)/P(H₂) between H₂O and H₂ in the reduction atmosphere, the average heating rate in a temperature range of 600° C. to 750° C., and the maximum heating temperature) shown in Tables 11 to 14 and thus base steel sheets were obtained.

The base steel sheets were subjected to a cooling treatment under the conditions (cooling rate 1 (the average cooling rate in a temperature range of 760° C. to 700° C.), cooling rate 2 (the average cooling rate in a temperature range of 650° C. to 500° C.), the conditions for martensitic transformation treatment (the treatment temperature and the treatment time), and bainitic transformation treatment 1 (the treatment temperature and the treatment time)) for the cooling step before plating shown in Tables 15 to 18 and thus base steel sheets for plating treatment were obtained.

Next, the steel sheets were immersed in a zinc plating bath under the conditions (the amount of effective Al, the plating bath temperature, and the steel sheet entering temperature) shown in Tables 15 to 18, and a cooling treatment after plating was performed under the conditions (Expression (2), cooling rate 3 (the average cooling rate in a temperature range of 350° C. to 250° C.), the conditions (the treatment temperature and the treatment time) for bainitic transformation treatment 2, and the conditions (the treatment temperature and the treatment time) for the reheating treatment) shown in Tables 19 to 22. Next, a bending-bending back deformation was performed under the conditions (the roll diameters and the processing times) shown in Tables 19 to 22.

Further, cold rolling was performed under the conditions (rolling reduction) shown in Tables 19 to 22 to obtain hot-dip galvanized steel sheets of Experimental Examples 1 to 200 (wherein the experiment was stopped in some of experimental examples).

Next, a thickness cross section parallel to the rolling direction of the base steel sheet was set as an observed section and a sample was collected from each of the hot-dip galvanized plated steel sheets, and the microstructure observation with a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and high resolution crystal orientation analysis according to an EBSD method were performed on the observed section of the sample. Volume fractions of the microstructure in a range of ⅛ thickness to ⅜ thickness centered at the position of ¼ of the thickness from the surface of the base steel sheet (¼ thickness), and a surface layer range originating from an interface between a plated layer and a base steel sheet and having 20 μm depth (surface layer of base steel) were measured respectively.

Here, “martensite” in the tables indicates a fresh martensite, “others” among the microstructures in the tables indicates pearlite and/or coarse cementite. In addition, “hard phase” is a hard structure consisting of one or more of a bainite, a bainitic ferrite, a fresh martensite and a tempered martensite.

Further, a thickness cross section parallel to the rolling direction of the steel sheet was set as an observed section and a sample was collected from the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet. The observed section of the sample was observed with a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) to observe the interface between the plated layer and the base steel sheet, and the ratio of the interface between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet in the interface between the plated layer and the base steel sheet (boundary surface occupancy ratio) is measured. “Occupancy ratio of ζ grain in which oxides present” indicates the ratio of the interface between the ζ grains in which coarse oxides are present among the ζ grains and the base steel with respect to the entire interface between the ζ phase and the base steel.

The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet is processed by ion milling and a BSE image was photographed at an accelerating voltage of 5 kV and a magnification of 5,000 with FE-SEM. Oxides and ζ phase boundaries appear darker in this BSE image. Among a plated layer/base steel sheet boundary length, a length in which the ζ phase is formed and a length in which the ζ phase including coarse grains is formed are read from the image and the occupancy ratio of the grains in which oxides present.

FIG. 2 indicates an enlarged cross section structure micrograph of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet of Experimental Example No. 1. The result of polishing a cross section of an obtained hot-dip galvanized steel sheet sample by ion milling process and imaging a BSE image at an accelerating voltage of 5 kV is indicated in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, a refined layer in which grains are fine was formed in the surface layer of the base steel sheet was formed. Additionally, it was confirmed that Si—Mn inside oxides are formed at an interface at a plated-layer side of the refined layer.

The plated amount of the plating was obtained by melting the plated layer using a hydrochloric acid with an inhibitor and comparing the weight before and after the melting. The results of observation of the microstructures and compositions of the plated layers, and so on, of the samples explained above are indicated in Tables 23 to 34.

Next, in order to investigate the properties of each hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, a tensile test, a hole expansion test, a bending test, a fatigue test, an adhesion evaluation test, a spot welding test, and a corrosion test were performed. The properties in each experimental example are shown in Tables 35 to 42.

No. 5 test pieces as described in JIS Z 2201 were cut out from the hot-dip galvanized steel sheets to perform a tensile test according to the method described in JIS Z 2241. Thus, the yield strength YS, the maximum tensile strength TS, and the total elongation El were obtained. The strength were evaluated such that a case in which the maximum tensile strength TS was 550 MPa or more was satisfactory.

A hole expansion test was performed according to the method described in JIS Z 2256. Among the formabilities, the ductility El and hole expansibility λ change according to the maximum tensile strength TS. However, the strength, the ductility and the hole expansibility in the case in which the following Expression (4) was satisfied were satisfactory.

TS^(1.5) ×El×λ ^(0.5)≧2.5×10⁶  Expression (4)

No. 5 test pieces as described in JIS Z 2201 were cut out from the hot-dip galvanized steel sheets to perform a bending test which is a 90° V bending test according to the V block method described in JIS Z 2248. A radius at a bottom portion of a V block is varied from 1.0 mm to 6.0 mm at intervals of 0.5 mm, a smallest radius of which crack did not occur in a test piece is set as a minimum bending radius r [mm]. Bendability was evaluated by “r/t” obtained by normalizing the minimum bending radius r with the plate thickness t [mm], and a case where “r/t” was 2.0 or less was evaluated as good bendability.

No. 1 test pieces as described in JIS Z 2275 were cut out from the hot-dip galvanized steel sheets to perform a pulsating plane bending fatigue test according to the method described in JIS Z 2273. Fatigue limit DL and fatigue limit ratio DL/TS were evaluated by setting the maximum number of repetitions to 10 million times, and a case where the fatigue limit ratio was 0.30 or more was evaluated as good fatigue resistance.

For plating adhesion, each hot-dip galvanized steel sheet to which 5% uniaxial tension strain was applied was subjected to a DuPont impact test. An adhesive tape was attached to the plated steel sheet after the impact test and then peeled off. The case in which the plating was not peeled off was evaluated as pass (o) and the case in which the plating was peeled off was evaluated as fail (x). The DuPont impact test was performed by dropping a weight of 3 kg onto the steel sheet from a height of 1 m using a punching die having a radius of curvature of the front end of ½ inches.

Spot weldability was evaluated by performing a continuous dotting test. Under the condition that the diameter of the welded part is 5.3 to 5.7 times the square root of the thickness, spot welding was continuously performed 1,000 times and d₁ of the first dot and d₁₀₀₀ of the 1,000-th dot of the diameters of the welded parts were compared to each other. The case in which d₁₀₀₀/d₁ was 0.90 or more was evaluated as pass (o) and the case in which d₁₀₀₀/d₁ was less than 0.90 was evaluated as fail (x).

For the evaluation of corrosion resistance, a test piece cut out from each hot-dip galvanized steel sheet to have a size of 150×70 mm was used, and the test piece was subjected to a zinc phosphate-based dipping type chemical conversion treatment and subsequently a cation electrode position coat of 20 μm was applied. Further, an intermediate coat of 35 μm and an upper coat of 35 μm were applied and then the rear surface and the end portion were sealed with an insulating tape. In the corrosion resistance test, CCT having one cycle of SST 6 hr→drying 4 hr→wetting 4 hr→freezing 4 hr was used. The evaluation of corrosion resistance after coating was performed such that the coated surface was cross-cut with a cutter until the cutting reached the base steel and a swollen width after 60 cycles of CCT was measured. The case in which the swollen width was 3.0 mm or less was evaluated as pass (o) and the case in which the swollen width was more than 3.0 mm was evaluated as fail (x).

For evaluating chipping properties, a test sample was cut out from each hot-dip galvanized steel sheet to have a size of 70 mm×150 mm, and an automotive degreasing, chemical conversion and 3-coat coating were performed on the test sample. In a state in which the test sample was cooled and retained at −20° C., ten crushed stones (0.3 to 0.5 g) were vertically applied with an air pressure of 2 kgf/cm². Ten crushed stones were applied to each sample. Each standard N5 is performed, 50 chipping scars in total were observed and evaluated according to the position of the peeled interface. The case in which the peeled interface was above the plated layer (the interface between the plated layer and the chemical conversion coating film or the interface between the electrode position coat and the intermediate coat coating) was evaluated as (o) and the case in which even one interface peeling occurred at interface between the plated layer and the base steel (base steel sheet) was evaluated as (x).

Powdering properties were evaluated using V bending (JIS Z 2248) to evaluate the workability of the plated layer. Each hot-dip galvanized steel sheet was cut into a size of 50×90 mm and a formed body was used with a 1R-90° V-shaped die press. In the grooves, tape peeling was performed. A cellophane tape having a width of 24 mm was pressed on the bent part and then peeled off. The part of the cellophane tape at a length of 90 mm was visually determined. The evaluation criteria were as follows.

o: the peeling of the plated layer occurred in an area of less than 5% of the worked part area x: the peeling of the plated layer occurred in an area of more than 5% of the worked part area

TABLE 1 Chemical C Si Mn P S Al N O components % by mass % by mass % by mass % by mass % by mass % by mass % by mass % by mass A 0.085 0.86 1.92 0.005 0.0016 0.059 0.0035 0.0008 Example B 0.051 0.51 2.38 0.012 0.0015 0.035 0.0014 0.0011 Example C 0.097 1.47 3.00 0.005 0.0011 0.007 0.0008 0.0032 Example D 0.060 1.09 1.35 0.009 0.0005 0.020 0.0047 0.0017 Example E 0.180 1.15 1.28 0.005 0.0030 0.042 0.0020 0.0012 Example F 0.107 0.60 2.95 0.015 0.0034 0.035 0.0013 0.0010 Example G 0.208 0.38 2.35 0.008 0.0048 0.028 0.0014 0.0010 Example H 0.078 1.19 3.09 0.012 0.0038 0.086 0.0008 0.0020 Example I 0.115 0.22 2.94 0.008 0.0040 1.246 0.0022 0.0019 Example J 0.234 0.94 1.44 0.017 0.0003 0.038 0.0017 0.0025 Example K 0.268 0.76 2.87 0.016 0.0040 0.081 0.0050 0.0018 Example L 0.153 0.94 2.41 0.011 0.0015 0.004 0.0030 0.0027 Example M 0.091 0.37 1.56 0.014 0.0008 0.046 0.0026 0.0008 Example N 0.203 0.33 2.49 0.012 0.0029 0.016 0.0008 0.0012 Example O 0.075 1.90 2.00 0.010 0.0029 0.027 0.0041 0.0015 Example P 0.063 0.66 2.31 0.015 0.0027 0.099 0.0027 0.0004 Example Q 0.116 0.72 1.96 0.017 0.0029 0.018 0.0046 0.0020 Example R 0.081 0.50 2.39 0.009 0.0062 0.072 0.0036 0.0023 Example S 0.203 0.89 1.74 0.016 0.0016 0.061 0.0008 0.0021 Example T 0.157 0.50 3.16 0.011 0.0025 0.041 0.0046 0.0009 Example U 0.100 0.88 2.73 0.047 0.0032 0.028 0.0033 0.0015 Example V 0.083 0.65 1.30 0.014 0.0009 0.066 0.0013 0.0012 Example W 0.092 0.67 2.86 0.018 0.0012 0.036 0.0020 0.0012 Example X 0.069 0.60 2.03 0.007 0.0004 0.043 0.0018 0.0032 Example Y 0.097 1.00 2.31 0.011 0.0059 0.029 0.0037 0.0020 Example Z 0.106 0.53 2.28 0.006 0.0031 0.008 0.0043 0.0022 Example

TABLE 2 Ti Nb V Cr Ni Cu Mo B W Ca Ce Mg Zr La REM Chemical % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % com- by by by by by by by by by by by by by by by ponents mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass A Example B Example C Example D Example E Example F Example G Example H 0.058 Example I Example J Example K Example L Example M 0.049 Example N 0.49 Example O Example P 0.131 Example Q 0.26 Example R Example S 0.41 Example T Example U Example V 0.48 Example W 0.18 Example X 0.0047 Example Y 0.0045 Example Z 0.0032 Example

TABLE 3 Chemical C Si Mn P S Al N O components % by mass % by mass % by mass % by mass % by mass % by mass % by mass % by mass AA 0.204 1.03 2.49 0.012 0.0014 0.047 0.0045 0.0003 Example AB 0.176 0.16 2.06 0.023 0.0016 0.083 0.0017 0.0013 Example AC 0.086 1.08 1.60 0.018 0.0006 0.078 0.0018 0.0008 Example AD 0.141 0.66 2.28 0.004 0.0009 0.038 0.0059 0.0016 Example AE 0.138 0.46 2.95 0.016 0.0016 0.020 0.0040 0.0017 Example AF 0.124 0.93 1.92 0.017 0.0027 0.057 0.0008 0.0007 Example AG 0.158 0.86 2.90 0.009 0.0003 0.070 0.0030 0.0028 Example AH 0.172 0.76 2.99 0.018 0.0031 0.059 0.0050 0.0013 Example AI 0.075 0.65 2.04 0.013 0.0004 0.255 0.0009 0.0010 Example AJ 0.157 0.49 2.07 0.010 0.0013 0.472 0.0020 0.0009 Example AK 0.179 0.95 3.07 0.020 0.0043 0.009 0.0016 0.0008 Example AL 0.096 0.16 2.25 0.006 0.0025 0.008 0.0051 0.0015 Example AM 0.177 0.75 2.40 0.009 0.0004 0.756 0.0038 0.0014 Example AN 0.150 0.49 1.83 0.010 0.0031 0.068 0.0040 0.0008 Example AO 0.134 0.67 2.36 0.009 0.0038 0.041 0.0017 0.0025 Example AP 0.170 0.34 2.34 0.010 0.0020 0.025 0.0024 0.0008 Example AQ 0.124 0.37 1.22 0.017 0.0064 0.046 0.0023 0.0027 Example AR 0.084 0.53 2.20 0.011 0.0053 0.058 0.0013 0.0017 Example AS 0.135 0.90 2.37 0.017 0.0023 0.061 0.0036 0.0025 Example AT 0.084 0.61 2.63 0.004 0.0049 0.033 0.0021 0.0014 Example AU 0.086 0.50 2.29 0.004 0.0022 0.045 0.0032 0.0014 Example AV 0.114 0.99 1.79 0.005 0.0032 0.084 0.0038 0.0014 Example AW 0.157 0.50 2.20 0.017 0.0022 0.087 0.0011 0.0009 Example AX 0.090 0.55 3.20 0.003 0.0017 0.051 0.0033 0.0007 Example AY 0.186 1.10 1.97 0.010 0.0033 0.030 0.0060 0.0029 Example AZ 0.070 0.75 2.36 0.015 0.0045 0.040 0.0083 0.0009 Example

TABLE 4 Ti Nb V Cr Ni Cu Mo B W Ca Ce Mg Zr La REM % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % Chemical by by by by by by by by by by by by by by by components mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass AA 0.016 0.016 Example AB 0.0046 Example AC 0.0046 Example AD 0.013 0.0009 Example AE 0.0006 Example AF 0.0024 Example AG 0.035 0.007 0.15 0.0003 Example AH 0.007 0.015 0.14 Example AI 0.090 0.025 1.34 Example AJ 0.018 0.026 0.36 0.0018 Example AK 0.045 0.011 0.08 0.0030 Example AL Example AM 0.064 0.014 0.95 0.0014 Example AN 0.0025 0.0013 Example AO 0.0041 0.0020 Example AP Example AQ 0.0015 0.0021 0.0008 Example AR Example AS 0.006 0.26 Example AT 0.057 0.06 Example AU 0.082 Example AV 0.116 Example AW Example AX 0.09 Example AY 0.26 Example AZ Example

TABLE 5 Chemical C Si Mn P S Al N O components % by mass % by mass % by mass % by mass % by mass % by mass % by mass % by mass BA 0.142 0.93 2.10 0.013 0.0015 0.064 0.0007 0.0053 Example BB 0.136 0.89 3.30 0.008 0.0031 0.070 0.0039 0.0006 Example BC 0.096 0.28 2.29 0.009 0.0018 0.007 0.0048 0.0022 Example BD 0.149 0.07 1.82 0.012 0.0016 0.037 0.0015 0.0025 Example BE 0.085 0.91 1.52 0.018 0.0033 0.052 0.0046 0.0022 Example BF 0.186 1.06 1.96 0.012 0.0008 0.047 0.0024 0.0022 Example BG 0.094 1.33 1.14 0.009 0.0010 0.021 0.0007 0.0028 Example BH 0.157 0.84 2.84 0.016 0.0044 0.211 0.0018 0.0012 Example BI 0.109 1.49 0.71 0.014 0.0024 0.068 0.0060 0.0006 Example BJ 0.127 0.67 1.53 0.003 0.0036 0.011 0.0017 0.0024 Example BK 0.096 0.44 1.96 0.013 0.0049 0.063 0.0017 0.0027 Example BL 0.092 0.55 2.90 0.006 0.0044 0.016 0.0017 0.0005 Example BM 0.120 1.73 0.91 0.009 0.0024 0.010 0.0036 0.0015 Example BN 0.102 0.11 1.81 0.004 0.0005 0.254 0.0030 0.0027 Example BO 0.016 1.11 2.91 0.013 0.0026 0.041 0.0027 0.0017 Comp. Ex. BP 0.411 0.80 2.60 0.004 0.0047 0.039 0.0040 0.0020 Comp. Ex. BQ 0.141 0.01 2.03 0.006 0.0025 0.016 0.0025 0.0029 Comp. Ex. BR 0.126 2.40 2.92 0.012 0.0014 0.040 0.0017 0.0016 Comp. Ex. BS 0.121 0.64 0.17 0.008 0.0037 0.042 0.0042 0.0034 Comp. Ex. BT 0.158 0.89 4.09 0.009 0.0016 0.083 0.0026 0.0018 Comp. Ex. BU 0.086 0.77 2.54 0.208 0.0026 0.034 0.0014 0.0024 Comp. Ex. BV 0.147 0.56 2.07 0.010 0.0139 0.043 0.0023 0.0008 Comp. Ex. BW 0.137 0.57 2.16 0.017 0.0034 2.077 0.0033 0.0021 Comp. Ex. BX 0.134 0.53 2.30 0.013 0.0021 0.026 0.0188 0.0022 Comp. Ex. BY 0.190 0.98 2.94 0.010 0.0034 0.050 0.0032 0.0154 Comp. Ex.

TABLE 6 Ti Nb V Cr Ni Cu Mo B W Ca Ce Mg Zr La REM % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % Chemical by by by by by by by by by by by by by by by components mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass mass BA Example BB Example BC Example BD Example BE 0.61 0.28 Example BF Example BG Example BH Example BI 0.72 0.11 Example BJ 0.074 Example BK 0.015 Example BL 0.0063 Example BM 0.005 0.030 0.0025 Example BN 0.060 0.018 0.0032 Example BO Comp. Ex. BP Comp. Ex. BQ Comp. Ex. BR Comp. Ex. BS Comp. Ex. BT Comp. Ex. BU Comp. Ex. BV Comp. Ex. BW Comp. Ex. BX Comp. Ex. BY Comp. Ex.

TABLE 7 Cold rolling Hot rolling step step Slab heating Rolling completion Average Coiling Rolling Experimental Chemical temperature temperature cooling rate temperature Ae3* Expression reduction Example components ° C. ° C. ° C./sec ° C. ° C. (1) % 1 A 1205 913 22 538 863 2.2 63 Example 2 A 1225 914 15 601 863 3.6 57 Comp. Ex. 3 A 1235 939 42 642 863 5.3 38 Example 4 A 1190 887 76 508 863 1.2 57 Example 5 B 1195 888 22 545 836 1.8 61 Example 6 B 1160 913 37 505 836 1.4 54 Example 7 B 1230 933 19 608 836 2.5 45 Example 8 B 1220 903 49 576 836 2.0 69 Example 9 C 1205 907 15 592 845 5.0 56 Example 10 C 1180 943 21 647 845 17.2  69 Example 11 C 1210 916 16 621 845 11.7  66 Example 12 C 1205 906 19 600 845 5.7 35 Comp. Ex. 13 D 1215 940 22 609 882 4.1 44 Example 14 D 1185 908 21 487 882 3.3 62 Comp. Ex. 15 D 1225 892 61 465 882 2.1 56 Example 16 D 1235 915 15 600 882 4.7 70 Example 17 E 1225 868 22 608 889 4.6 58 Example 18 E 1195 903 20 601 889 4.9 25 Example 19 E 1190 885 11 617 889 6.3 66 Example 20 E 1215 921 20 577 889 3.5 36 Comp. Ex. 21 F 1220 939 34 562 822 1.5 48 Example 22 F 1200 911 45 632 822 2.9 54 Example 23 F 1210 974 39 572 822 1.5 65 Example 24 F 1210 934 58 596 822 2.0 52 Example 25 G 1250 910 22 568 832 1.7 46 Example 26 G 1210 880 65 524 832 0.9 59 Example 27 G 1225 891 54 508 832 0.6 58 Comp. Ex. 28 G 1245 896 15 596 832 2.1 67 Example 29 H 1235 915 50 602 843 3.9 52 Example 30 H 1265 917 53 552 843 2.2 45 Example 31 H 1255 904 34 564 843 2.5 2 Example 32 I 1245 946 50 581 960 4.1 48 Example 33 I 1245 968 14 630 960 6.9 55 Example 34 I 1210 950 58 583 960 3.9 58 Example 35 J 1190 891 27 595 877 3.5 26 Example 36 J 1225 868 38 594 877 3.1 48 Example 37 J 1175 935 17 578 877 3.4 53 Example 38 K 1190 884 20 584 835 2.4 50 Example 39 K 1240 917 16 582 835 2.4 38 Example 40 K 1205 858 17 585 835 2.3 51 Example 41 L 1205 925 16 584 845 3.1 59 Example 42 L 1245 955 59 578 845 2.1 64 Example 43 L 1210 923 34 552 845 2.2 52 Comp. Ex. 44 M 1185 882 15 544 857 2.5 50 Example 45 M 1270 896 15 567 857 2.8 44 Example 46 M 1245 955 24 584 857 2.4 47 Comp. Ex. 47 N 1235 914 23 549 816 1.6 61 Example 48 N 1255 911 31 569 816 2.4 35 Example 49 N 1235 946 23 550 816 1.5 38 Comp. Ex. 50 O 1255 941 18 554 890 4.7 52 Example

TABLE 8 Cold rolling Hot rolling step step Slab heating Rolling completion Average Coiling Rolling Experimental Chemical temperature temperature cooling rate temperature Ae3* Expression reduction Example components ° C. ° C. ° C./sec ° C. ° C. (1) % 51 O 1245 890 8 628 890 21.7  52 Comp. Ex. 52 O 1215 896 47 603 890 8.1 25 Example 53 O 1185 881 10 624 890 12.1  59 Example 54 P 1235 928 22 572 851 2.2 50 Example 55 P 1240 909 14 616 851 1.9 42 Example 56 P 1215 925 75 552 851 1.4 47 Example 57 Q 1200 890 34 556 842 2.0 50 Example 58 Q 1205 908 58 582 842 2.2 36 Example 59 Q 1230 898 63 570 842 2.0 49 Comp. Ex. 60 R 1250 874 39 612 840 2.1 70 Example 61 R 1185 880 27 563 840 4.9 39 Example 62 R 1240 905 18 554 840 3.0 28 Example 63 S 1230 899 50 547 861 1.8 52 Example 64 S 1220 945 20 607 861 5.9 63 Example 65 S 1245 889 16 576 861 3.6 29 Comp. Ex. 66 T 1245 908 25 605 813 2.0 57 Example 67 T 1190 918 53 606 813 1.7 28 Example 68 T 1225 884 45 564 813 1.8 45 Comp. Ex. 69 U 1210 887 17 598 836 3.1 58 Example 70 U 1220 932 17 581 836 3.7 37 Example 71 U 1220 888 23 548 836 2.0 29 Example 72 V 1195 942 38 553 882 3.0 52 Example 73 V 1220 870 46 581 882 1.4 33 Example 74 V 1225 929 32 596 882 2.3 43 Example 75 W 1200 943 16 613 827 3.2 53 Example 76 W 1250 892 29 538 827 1.7 42 Comp. Ex. 77 W 1220 950 37 553 827 3.4 44 Example 78 X 1240 894 23 607 850 2.8 37 Example 79 X 1205 940 24 571 850 3.9 44 Example 80 X 1225 922 30 591 850 4.8 56 Comp. Ex. 81 Y 1225 891 21 557 853 2.7 46 Example 82 Y 1255 888 15 567 853 2.7 36 Example 83 Y 1185 873 14 587 853 3.1 63 Example 84 Z 1205 918 17 579 836 2.2 56 Example 85 Z 1200 922 16 582 836 1.6 53 Comp. Ex. 86 Z 1205 911 52 619 836 1.4 50 Example 87 AA 1235 938 22 601 850 4.0 63 Example 88 AA 1200 886 18 519 850 2.4 30 Example 89 AB 1195 913 19 592 840 1.9 58 Example 90 AB 1235 926 32 538 840 1.4 28 Example 91 AB 1180 882 49 496 840 1.2 45 Example 92 AC 1240 908 21 563 882 3.5 50 Example 93 AC 1205 883 19 635 882 5.5 56 Example 94 AD 1230 934 61 556 844 1.3 62 Example 95 AD 1195 906 57 551 844 1.5 46 Example 96 AE 1235 896 30 542 816 1.6 26 Example 97 AE 1195 909 19 613 816 1.4 53 Example 98 AF 1195 932 21 581 865 3.2 63 Example 99 AF 1230 914 19 623 865 2.5 53 Example 100 AG 1185 889 48 569 838 1.8 52 Example

TABLE 9 Cold rolling Hot rolling step step Slab heating Rolling completion Average Coiling Rolling Experimental Chemical temperature temperature cooling rate temperature Ae3* Expression reduction Example components ° C. ° C. ° C./sec ° C. ° C. (1) % 101 AG 1240 942 28 630 838 3.4 47 Example 102 AH 1245 916 19 610 826 3.4 75 Example 103 AH 1220 926 29 612 826 2.8 56 Example 104 AI 1210 902 14 601 853 3.0 55 Example 105 AI 1205 928 22 592 853 2.7 60 Example 106 AJ 1230 921 32 557 903 3.0 63 Example 107 AJ 1245 904 29 613 903 2.6 41 Example 108 AK 1235 913 65 545 825 1.3 56 Example 109 AK 1210 912 24 609 825 8.4 59 Example 110 AL 1210 903 21 551 825 1.5 42 Example 111 AL 1240 878 44 590 825 3.0 59 Example 112 AM 1235 938 16 588 915 6.8 57 Example 113 AM 1175 925 22 568 915 5.2 21 Example 114 AM 1245 889 27 521 915 3.5 36 Example 115 AM 1200 933 14 625 915 20.6  42 Comp. Ex. 116 AN 1240 905 20 596 855 2.4 66 Example 117 AN 1250 890 30 642 855 3.1 31 Example 118 AO 1225 916 48 585 842 1.8 60 Example 119 AO 1225 912 16 555 842 1.8 40 Example 120 AP 1230 905 26 598 830 1.7 59 Example 121 AP 1215 897 29 550 830 1.5 50 Example 122 AP 1245 959 38 532 830 1.4 49 Example 123 AQ 1235 873 11 599 867 3.2 63 Example 124 AQ 1220 936 19 538 867 2.6 58 Example 125 AR 1190 916 15 593 844 2.5 50 Example 126 AR 1235 929 73 512 844 1.0 38 Example 127 AS 1210 906 20 575 847 2.7 40 Example 128 AS 1245 934 24 534 847 1.6 62 Example 129 AT 1235 913 22 575 832 2.0 58 Example 130 AT 1210 927 42 621 832 3.0 52 Example 131 AU 1180 919 17 571 839 2.2 46 Example 132 AU 1205 881 44 480 839 0.7 35 Comp. Ex. 133 AU 1255 873 21 540 839 1.3 41 Example 134 AU 1230 902 18 535 839 2.7 49 Example 135 AV 1235 915 28 600 874 3.5 64 Example 136 AV 1195 924 52 535 874 2.1 43 Comp. Ex. 137 AV 1210 926 27 630 874 4.2 68 Example 138 AW 1200 878 16 560 847 2.4 69 Example 139 AW 1230 886 21 539 847 1.6 61 Comp. Ex. 140 AW 1225 954 17 622 847 3.5 37 Example 141 AX 1230 939 27 606 813 2.0 48 Example 142 AX 1205 918 53 497 813 1.0 53 Example 143 AY 1215 942 31 562 869 2.7 42 Example 144 AY 1210 962 21 538 869 9.1 44 Example 145 AZ 1230 896 27 571 845 2.0 74 Example 146 AZ 1245 926 15 608 845 2.8 56 Example 147 BA 1215 869 25 564 861 2.4 56 Example 148 BA 1180 895 27 583 861 3.0 41 Example 149 BB 1215 908 25 594 825 3.1 52 Example 150 BB 1170 914 17 553 825 3.0 56 Comp. Ex.

TABLE 10 Cold rolling Hot rolling step step Slab heating Rolling completion Average Coiling Rolling Experimental Chemical temperature temperature cooling rate temperature Ae3* Expression reduction Example components ° C. ° C. ° C./sec ° C. ° C. (1) % 151 BB 1235 907 15 574 825 3.0 5 Example 152 BB 1185 911 51 551 825 2.5 61 Example 153 BC 1190 920 70 545 828 1.0 73 Example 154 BC 1215 879 63 534 828 0.9 59 Example 155 BC 1200 899 55 591 828 1.5 55 Example 156 BC 1250 913 28 572 828 1.4 1 Example 157 BC 1235 882 55 538 828 0.6 44 Comp. Ex. 158 BD 1240 906 23 553 838 1.9 50 Example 159 BD 1235 938 16 606 838 2.6 43 Example 160 BE 1230 894 32 568 845 1.9 58 Example 161 BE 1230 898 16 565 845 2.0 41 Example 162 BF 1230 914 34 571 867 2.8 60 Example 163 BF 1190 931 66 577 867 1.5 48 Example 164 BF 1210 912 27 598 867 2.9 38 Example 165 BF 1195 903 16 573 867 3.6 51 Comp. Ex. 166 BG 1250 904 45 573 896 3.6 74 Example 167 BG 1175 927 21 590 896 7.3 25 Example 168 BG 1235 908 19 621 896 20.3  59 Comp. Ex. 169 BG 1215 879 28 589 896 3.5 62 Example 170 BH 1225 886 19 566 854 2.7 63 Example 171 BH 1195 904 29 563 854 1.7 27 Comp. Ex. 172 BH 1215 936 58 602 854 2.1 49 Example 173 BH 1240 882 61 574 854 1.7 48 Example 174 BI 1210 939 55 558 908 4.0 38 Example 175 BI 1195 898 25 516 908 7.9 69 Example 176 BJ 1245 893 48 595 863 2.1 55 Example 177 BJ 1195 881 52 528 863 1.8 46 Comp. Ex. 178 BJ 1225 920 35 559 863 3.1 46 Example 179 BK 1220 914 52 618 849 2.0 61 Example 180 BK 1235 911 62 581 849 2.6 57 Example 181 BL 1190 905 19 604 820 2.6 68 Example 182 BL 1185 912 46 582 820 2.4 46 Example 183 BL 1245 916 18 555 820 1.9 39 Comp. Ex. 184 BL 1210 890 56 575 820 1.3 65 Example 185 BM 1215 925 28 589 914 5.7 42 Example 186 BM 1250 903 53 601 914 13.9  50 Comp. Ex. 187 BM 1215 944 12 637 914 15.4  45 Example 188 BN 1240 890 18 605 867 2.5 50 Example 189 BN 1220 946 32 548 867 2.7 57 Example 190 BO 1225 939 24 575 840 2.9 56 Comp. Ex. 191 BP 1250 893 57 578 839 1.9 52 Comp. Ex. 192 BQ 1220 907 29 574 828 1.4 59 Comp. Ex. 193 BR Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during heating in hot rolling step Comp. Ex. 194 BS 1180 909 16 555 905 5.4 53 Comp. Ex. 195 BT Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during heating in hot rolling step Comp. Ex. 196 BU Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during heating in hot rolling step Comp. Ex. 197 BV 1225 939 23 561 847 2.1 62 Comp. Ex. 198 BW Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during transportation after casting of slab Comp. Ex. 199 BX 1245 876 47 583 838 1.7 50 Comp. Ex. 200 BY 1215 916 50 594 836 2.9 40 Comp. Ex. 201 A 1205 913 22 538 863 2.2 63 Comp. Ex.

TABLE 11 Annealing step Heating step Maximum heating Preheating Reduction zone Experimental Chemical Average heating rate temperature Tm Ac3 Ac3 − T_(M) Ac1 T_(M) − Ac1 zone P(H2O)/ Example components ° C./sec ° C. ° C. ° C. ° C. ° C. Air ratio P(H2) 1 A 2.5 813 861 48 712 101 1.0 0.45 Example 2 A 2.6 801 861 60 712 89 1.1 0.71 Comp. Ex. 3 A 1.3 796 861 65 712 84 0.8 0.52 Example 4 A 2.0 809 861 52 712 97 0.9 0.63 Example 5 B 2.3 805 852 47 693 112 1.1 0.86 Example 6 B 2.4 797 852 55 693 104 1.1 0.71 Example 7 B 2.9 829 852 23 693 136 0.9 1.17 Example 8 B 2.4 794 852 58 693 101 0.9 0.004 Example 9 C 1.9 805 847 42 703 102 0.9 0.73 Example 10 C 3.3 789 847 58 703 86 1.0 0.27 Example 11 C 2.5 789 847 58 703 86 0.9 0.57 Example 12 C 2.7 791 847 56 703 88 1.0 0.86 Comp. Ex. 13 D 3.3 831 892 61 728 103 1.1 0.76 Example 14 D 4.0 810 892 82 728 82 1.4 0.55 Comp. Ex. 15 D 2.0 819 892 73 728 91 1.0 0.87 Example 16 D 2.2 817 892 75 728 89 1.0 0.66 Example 17 E 2.0 825 867 42 733 92 1.0 0.54 Example 18 E 2.3 799 867 68 733 66 1.1 0.92 Example 19 E 2.1 812 867 55 733 79 0.9 1.11 Example 20 E 2.8 816 867 51 733 83 1.0 0.81 Comp. Ex. 21 F 2.0 777 824 47 686 91 0.9 0.62 Example 22 F 2.4 768 824 56 686 82 1.0 0.63 Example 23 F 1.6 771 824 53 686 85 0.8 0.25 Example 24 F 2.2 768 824 56 686 82 1.0 1.65 Example 25 G 1.8 790 818 28 689 101 0.9 0.52 Example 26 G 1.5 787 818 31 689 98 1.0 0.89 Example 27 G 1.6 771 818 47 689 82 0.9 0.46 Comp. Ex. 28 G 2.8 813 818 5 689 124 0.8 0.81 Example 29 H 2.1 797 856 59 696 101 1.0 0.61 Example 30 H 2.6 781 856 75 696 85 0.9 0.14 Example 31 H 1.6 799 856 57 696 103 0.8 0.72 Example 32 I 3.2 874 987 113 724 150 0.9 0.77 Example 33 I 1.5 865 987 122 724 141 1.2 0.16 Example 34 I 1.2 768 987 219 724 44 0.8 0.43 Example 35 J 2.3 799 839 40 719 80 1.0 0.93 Example 36 J 3.3 787 839 52 719 68 0.7 0.65 Example 37 J 1.8 794 839 45 719 75 1.1 0.001 Example 38 K 1.8 790 808 18 690 100 0.8 0.40 Example 39 K 1.8 768 808 40 690 78 0.7 0.41 Example 40 K 2.6 765 808 43 690 75 1.0 0.88 Example 41 L 2.3 815 843 28 704 111 1.0 0.68 Example 42 L 2.1 829 843 14 704 125 0.8 0.53 Example 43 L 3.0 794 843 49 704 90 1.0 0.67 Comp. Ex. 44 M 2.1 808 864 56 703 105 1.0 0.64 Example 45 M 1.7 804 864 60 703 101 1.0 0.63 Example 46 M 1.5 791 864 73 703 88 0.5 0.73 Comp. Ex. 47 N 2.3 785 811 26 698 87 0.9 0.89 Example 48 N 2.1 785 811 26 698 87 0.9 0.87 Example 49 N 2.6 768 811 43 698 70 1.0 0.79 Comp. Ex. 50 O 2.4 828 898 70 729 99 1.1 0.52 Example

TABLE 12 Annealing step Heating step Maximum heating Preheating Reduction zone Experimental Chemical Average heating rate temperature Tm Ac3 Ac3 − T_(M) Ac1 T_(M) − Ac1 zone P(H2O)/ Example components ° C./sec ° C. ° C. ° C. ° C. ° C. Air ratio P(H2) 51 O 3.0 830 898 68 729 101 0.9 0.43 Comp. Ex. 52 O 3.2 812 898 86 729 83 0.9 0.74 Example 53 O 2.9 813 898 85 729 84 1.1 0.88 Example 54 P 2.9 802 868 66 701 101 1.0 0.62 Example 55 P 3.6 794 868 74 701 93 0.9 0.01 Example 56 P 3.1 801 868 67 701 100 0.8 0.69 Example 57 Q 2.3 804 835 31 693 111 0.8 0.73 Example 58 Q 3.3 782 835 53 693 89 1.0 0.75 Example 59 Q 2.6 794 835 41 693 101 0.9 0.93 Comp. Ex. 60 R 1.7 798 843 45 690 108 0.9 0.79 Example 61 R 1.6 790 843 53 690 100 1.1 0.61 Example 62 R 3.6 787 843 56 690 97 0.9 0.86 Example 63 S 2.1 810 831 21 713 97 0.8 0.99 Example 64 S 2.0 787 831 44 713 74 1.1 0.45 Example 65 S 1.9 789 831 42 713 76 1.1 0.73 Comp. Ex. 66 T 2.1 769 811 42 677 92 1.0 0.65 Example 67 T 2.0 794 811 17 677 117 1.0 0.82 Example 68 T 2.5 828 811 −17 677 151 1.0 0.67 Comp. Ex. 69 U 2.7 793 837 44 690 103 1.0 0.67 Example 70 U 2.6 775 837 62 690 85 0.9 0.44 Example 71 U 2.5 771 837 66 690 81 0.9 0.42 Example 72 V 2.3 817 883 66 720 97 1.0 0.55 Example 73 V 3.8 818 883 65 720 98 1.1 0.74 Example 74 V 2.8 816 883 67 720 96 1.0 0.71 Example 75 W 3.0 786 836 50 685 101 1.0 0.79 Example 76 W 2.0 778 836 58 685 93 1.0 3.20 Comp. Ex. 77 W 1.7 781 836 55 685 96 1.0 0.83 Example 78 X 1.9 808 860 52 699 109 1.0 0.92 Example 79 X 3.0 796 860 64 699 97 1.0 0.91 Example 80 X 2.0 796 860 64 699 97 0.9 1.15 Comp. Ex. 81 Y 2.5 818 852 34 704 114 0.9 0.80 Example 82 Y 1.8 802 852 50 704 98 0.9 0.90 Example 83 Y 2.4 789 852 63 704 85 1.0 0.26 Example 84 Z 3.0 803 849 46 698 105 0.9 0.85 Example 85 Z 0.6 773 849 76 698 75 0.9 0.75 Comp. Ex. 86 Z 2.9 790 849 59 698 92 0.9 0.78 Example 87 AA 2.4 813 841 28 703 110 1.2 0.56 Example 88 AA 2.4 783 841 58 703 80 1.0 0.46 Example 89 AB 2.5 793 832 39 695 98 0.9 0.74 Example 90 AB 2.2 782 832 50 695 87 1.0 0.74 Example 91 AB 1.6 794 832 38 695 99 0.9 0.16 Example 92 AC 2.1 834 886 52 720 114 0.9 0.68 Example 93 AC 2.4 806 886 80 720 86 0.8 0.83 Example 94 AD 2.7 795 839 44 702 93 0.8 0.73 Example 95 AD 2.1 793 839 46 702 91 1.1 0.81 Example 96 AE 1.7 774 821 47 675 99 1.0 0.70 Example 97 AE 3.2 782 821 39 675 107 0.8 0.77 Example 98 AF 1.9 822 868 46 711 111 0.9 0.89 Example 99 AF 1.9 806 868 62 711 95 0.9 0.86 Example 100 AG 3.0 795 828 33 694 101 1.0 0.61 Example

TABLE 13 Annealing step Heating step Maximum heating Preheating Reduction zone Experimental Chemical Average heating rate temperature Tm Ac3 Ac3 − T_(M) Ac1 T_(M) − Ac1 zone P(H2O)/ Example components ° C./sec ° C. ° C. ° C. ° C. ° C. Air ratio P(H2) 101 AG 1.2 786 828 42 694 92 0.8 0.94 Example 102 AH 2.2 784 822 38 689 95 1.0 0.70 Example 103 AH 2.5 777 822 45 689 88 0.8 0.48 Example 104 AI 2.9 802 820 18 745 57 1.1 0.59 Example 105 AI 2.6 772 820 48 745 27 0.8 0.84 Example 106 AJ 1.6 820 872 52 720 100 0.9 0.74 Example 107 AJ 2.2 807 872 65 720 87 0.9 0.83 Example 108 AK 2.4 773 819 46 686 87 1.0 0.77 Example 109 AK 2.2 782 819 37 686 96 0.9 0.80 Example 110 AL 2.1 793 828 35 684 109 0.9 0.89 Example 111 AL 2.7 776 828 52 684 92 1.0 0.73 Example 112 AM 2.5 831 880 49 750 81 1.0 0.71 Example 113 AM 1.9 811 880 69 750 61 0.9 0.57 Example 114 AM 2.3 853 880 27 750 103 1.0 0.62 Example 115 AM 2.5 824 880 56 750 74 0.8 0.98 Comp. Ex. 116 AN 2.7 796 835 39 708 88 0.8 0.65 Example 117 AN 2.8 786 835 49 708 78 0.7 0.47 Example 118 AO 3.6 805 836 31 707 98 1.0 0.41 Example 119 AO 1.8 781 836 55 707 74 1.1 0.58 Example 120 AP 2.3 790 815 25 691 99 1.0 0.74 Example 121 AP 2.3 772 815 43 691 81 0.9 0.44 Example 122 AP 1.9 779 815 36 691 88 0.8 0.79 Example 123 AQ 3.6 795 855 60 713 82 1.1 0.93 Example 124 AQ 2.0 796 855 59 713 83 1.1 0.78 Example 125 AR 2.2 800 846 46 696 104 1.0 0.96 Example 126 AR 2.6 785 846 61 696 89 1.1 0.59 Example 127 AS 3.0 815 845 30 707 108 1.1 0.63 Example 128 AS 3.5 788 845 57 707 81 1.0 0.52 Example 129 AT 2.9 785 840 55 687 98 1.0 0.99 Example 130 AT 1.5 777 840 63 687 90 1.0 0.56 Example 131 AU 2.2 805 845 40 695 110 0.9 0.62 Example 132 AU 1.7 787 845 58 695 92 1.0 0.41 Comp. Ex. 133 AU 2.2 795 845 50 695 100 1.0 0.02 Example 134 AU 2.1 793 845 52 695 98 0.9 0.69 Example 135 AV 3.3 827 863 36 722 105 0.9 0.76 Example 136 AV 3.0 804 863 59 722 82 1.2 0.50 Comp. Ex. 137 AV 3.4 801 863 62 722 79 1.0 0.51 Example 138 AW 3.0 799 839 40 696 103 0.9 0.58 Example 139 AW 2.2 792 839 47 696 96 1.1 0.71 Comp. Ex. 140 AW 4.4 777 839 62 696 81 1.0 1.12 Example 141 AX 3.6 785 827 42 682 103 1.0 0.63 Example 142 AX 2.1 774 827 53 682 92 0.9 0.86 Example 143 AY 2.2 809 845 36 716 93 0.8 0.97 Example 144 AY 2.8 795 845 50 716 79 1.0 0.62 Example 145 AZ 1.8 793 857 64 699 94 0.8 0.60 Example 146 AZ 2.5 796 857 61 699 97 0.9 0.47 Example 147 BA 3.3 803 850 47 708 95 0.9 0.45 Example 148 BA 2.8 789 850 61 708 81 1.0 1.08 Example 149 BB 2.1 785 820 35 682 103 0.9 0.79 Example 150 BB 2.5 782 820 38 682 100 1.0 0.72 Comp. Ex.

TABLE 14 Annealing step Heating step Maximum heating Preheating Reduction zone Experimental Chemical Average heating rate temperature Tm Ac3 Ac3 − T_(M) Ac1 T_(M) − Ac1 zone P(H2O)/ Example components ° C./sec ° C. ° C. ° C. ° C. ° C. Air ratio P(H2) 151 BB 1.5 775 820 45 682 93 0.8 0.81 Example 152 BB 1.6 772 820 48 682 90 1.1 0.83 Example 153 BC 2.3 787 836 49 688 99 1.0 0.71 Example 154 BC 2.8 796 836 40 688 108  0.9 0.86 Example 155 BC 3.9 785 836 51 688 97 0.9 1.31 Example 156 BC 2.8 780 836 56 688 92 0.9 0.83 Example 157 BC 2.5 792 836 44 688 104  1.1 0.77 Comp. Ex. 158 BD 2.3 798 832 34 698 100  0.9 0.64 Example 159 BD 1.8 780 832 52 698 82 0.8 0.52 Example 160 BE 3.4 802 855 53 696 106  1.0 0.83 Example 161 BE 2.8 802 855 53 696 106  1.2 0.76 Example 162 BF 2.7 797 845 48 712 85 1.0 0.76 Example 163 BF 1.9 785 845 60 712 73 1.0 0.01 Example 164 BF 2.4 794 845 51 712 82 1.0 0.88 Example 165 BF 2.6 805 845 40 712 93 1.1 0.68 Comp. Ex. 166 BG 2.9 839 901 62 736 103  1.1 0.85 Example 167 BG 2.5 824 901 77 736 88 0.8 0.63 Example 168 BG 2.0 816 901 85 736 80 1.1 0.79 Comp. Ex. 169 BG 2.4 813 901 88 736 77 1.2 0.58 Example 170 BH 2.7 792 837 45 696 96 3.0 0.76 Example 171 BH 3.5 782 837 55 696 86 1.0  0.0000 Comp. Ex. 172 BH 2.2 792 837 45 696 96 0.9 0.43 Example 173 BH 3.2 783 837 54 696 87 1.0 0.47 Example 174 BI 3.0 860 936 76 741 119  1.0 0.63 Example 175 BI 2.5 830 936 106 741 89 0.9 0.83 Example 176 BJ 2.2 816 865 49 715 101  1.0 0.68 Example 177 BJ 3.7 810 865 55 715 95 0.0 0.59 Comp. Ex. 178 BJ 2.1 806 865 59 715 91 1.0 0.60 Example 179 BK 2.5 793 845 52 701 92 1.1 0.84 Example 180 BK 4.1 792 845 53 701 91 0.9 0.53 Example 181 BL 3.0 783 833 50 681 102  1.0 0.47 Example 182 BL 3.0 774 833 59 681 93 0.7 0.52 Example 183 BL 1.4 773 833 60 681 92 1.0 0.74 Comp. Ex. 184 BL 1.5 783 833 50 681 102  1.0 0.01 Example 185 BM 3.2 836 917 81 746 90 0.9 0.72 Example 186 BM 2.4 763 917 154 746 17 1.1 0.50 Comp. Ex. 187 BM 2.9 837 917 80 746 91 0.8 0.93 Example 188 BN 2.2 815 861 46 710 105  1.0 0.85 Example 189 BN 2.2 798 861 63 710 88 0.9 0.65 Example 190 BO 2.2 845 884 39 792 53 1.0 0.59 Comp. Ex. 191 BP 2.9 777 782 5 690 87 0.9 0.71 Comp. Ex. 192 BQ 2.9 794 824 30 686 108  0.9 0.65 Comp. Ex. 193 BR Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during heating in hot rolling step Comp. Ex. 194 BS 2.4 825 892 67 737 88 1.0 0.54 Comp. Ex. 195 BT Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during heating in hot rolling step Comp. Ex. 196 BU Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during hot rolling in hot rolling step Comp. Ex. 197 BV 1.9 810 835 25 703 107  0.8 0.83 Comp. Ex. 198 BW Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during transportation after casting of slab Comp. Ex. 199 BX 2.7 804 831 27 693 111  1.1 0.45 Comp. Ex. 200 BY 2.6 800 827 27 694 106  1.1 0.73 Comp. Ex. 201 A 2.0 813 861 48 712 101  1.0 2.25 Comp. Ex.

TABLE 15 Annealing step Plating step Cooling step Plating bath Martensitic transformation Bainitic transformation Amount Chem- treatment treatment 1 of Steel sheet Exper- ical Cooling Cooling Ms Average Treatment Average Treatment effective Bath tem- entering imental com- rate 1 rate 2 point temperature time temperature time Al perature temperature Example ponents ° C./sec ° C./sec ° C. ° C. sec ° C. sec % by mass ° C. ° C. 1 A 1.3 4.2 364 — — — — 0.084 459 467 Example 2 A 1.6 5.4 350 — — — — 0.042 460 462 Comp. Ex. 3 A 1.3 37.0 323 — — 460 39 0.095 460 456 Example 4 A 1.1 5.6 250 — — — — 0.094 461 459 Example 5 B 1.5 5.8 375 — — — — 0.087 456 460 Example 6 B 1.2 8.0 330 — — — — 0.105 466 475 Example 7 B 1.6 6.8 336 307 13 — — 0.133 469 478 Example 8 B 1.2 7.1 365 — — 420 98 0.107 459 460 Example 9 C 1.4 8.5 296 — — — — 0.104 460 465 Example 10 C 1.3 21.9 296 — — — — 0.098 462 461 Example 11 C 1.2 8.4 296 — — — — 0.097 459 459 Example 12 C 0.9 6.4 275 — — — — 0.120 455 457 Comp. Ex. 13 D 1.1 12.1 380 — — — — 0.104 460 467 Example 14 D 1.2 24.3 343 — — — — 0.075 465 462 Comp. Ex. 15 D 2.3 14.7 401 376 17 — — 0.105 461 457 Example 16 D 1.5 13.9 360 346 12 348 26 0.110 460 464 Example 17 E 1.0 7.4 236 — — — — 0.084 459 465 Example 18 E 1.3 4.2 243 — — — — 0.114 459 456 Example 19 E 2.2 5.1 290 — — — — 0.091 462 460 Example 20 E  0.03 6.0 125 — — — — 0.086 462 468 Comp. Ex. 21 F 1.0 3.3 275 — — — — 0.109 462 454 Example 22 F 1.3 4.8 302 — — 416 15 0.119 457 461 Example 23 F 1.1 4.8 284 — — — — 0.096 461 463 Example 24 F 0.9 2.8 254 — — — — 0.080 465 460 Example 25 G 1.0 4.7 102 — — — — 0.108 458 457 Example 26 G 2.1 2.9 275 — — — — 0.108 458 460 Example 27 G 0.8 4.9 155 — — — — 0.108 463 463 Comp. Ex. 28 G 0.9 7.5 102 — — — — 0.104 462 459 Example 29 H 1.0 7.5 294 — — — — 0.101 460 466 Example 30 H 1.6 8.1 320 313 42 — — 0.131 461 456 Example 31 H 0.7 5.8 133 — — — — 0.109 463 460 Example 32 I 1.1 9.0 276 — — — — 0.096 460 463 Example 33 I 0.9 2.5 288 — — 339 83 0.075 459 460 Example 34 I 1.1 10.0 137 — — — — 0.101 459 450 Example 35 J 0.8 5.0 107 — — — — 0.106 460 456 Example 36 J 1.5 7.9 225 — — 476 21 0.108 462 468 Example 37 J 0.7 13.3 107 — — — — 0.108 457 451 Example 38 K 0.9 5.7 68 — — — — 0.095 458 453 Example 39 K 0.8 1.4 149 — — — — 0.106 458 465 Example 40 K 0.8 3.1 149 — — — — 0.096 461 462 Example 41 L 1.3 8.1 174 — — — — 0.095 459 464 Example 42 L 2.4 7.7 311 221 14 — — 0.096 463 472 Example 43 L 0.9 5.9 164 — — 525 175  0.103 458 464 Comp. Ex. 44 M 1.1 6.3 150 — — — — 0.086 459 454 Example 45 M 2.1 7.0 377 — — 419 248  0.123 463 460 Example 46 M 0.7 6.5 150 — — — — 0.082 460 464 Comp. Ex. 47 N 1.3 2.3 188 — — — — 0.086 459 460 Example 48 N 1.5 20.3 245 — — — — 0.110 459 467 Example 49 N 5.4 7.0 302 — — 385 63 0.090 461 458 Comp. Ex. 50 O 1.2 5.2 306 — — — — 0.096 461 467 Example

TABLE 16 Annealing step Plating step Cooling step Plating bath Martensitic transformation Bainitic transformation Amount Chem- treatment treatment 1 of Steel sheet Exper- ical Cooling Cooling Ms Average Treatment Average Treatment effective Bath tem- entering imental com- rate 1 rate 2 point temperature time temperature time Al perature temperature Example ponents ° C./sec ° C./sec ° C. ° C. sec ° C. sec % by mass ° C. ° C. 51 O 1.2 7.5 295 — — — — 0.110 458 457 Comp. Ex. 52 O 1.1 5.2 328 — — — — 0.106 459 457 Example 53 O 1.0 14.4 301 — — — — 0.092 460 456 Example 54 P 1.0 4.5 337 — — — — 0.100 461 455 Example 55 P 1.3 4.4 359 — — — — 0.106 461 456 Example 56 P 1.2 5.8 345 — — — — 0.140 460 461 Example 57 Q 0.9 7.3 114 — — — — 0.113 461 455 Example 58 Q 1.4 10.1 296 — — — — 0.099 459 456 Example 59 Q 1.8 6.7 327 307 18 409 128 0.107 458 463 Comp. Ex. 60 R 0.8 4.0 24 — — — — 0.087 459 456 Example 61 R 0.7 7.5 131 — — — — 0.096 461 462 Example 62 R 0.8 2.2 −97 — — — — 0.076 461 465 Example 63 S 1.0 7.6 112 — — — — 0.090 460 464 Example 64 S 0.9 39.0 136 — — — — 0.127 460 462 Example 65 S 0.6 7.2 112 — — — — 0.102 459 455 Comp. Ex. 66 T 0.8 1.6 148 — — — — 0.096 458 463 Example 67 T 1.1 82.1 176 — — 376 413 0.100 460 450 Example 68 T 2.5 2.6 321 — — — — 0.106 460 468 Comp. Ex. 69 U 1.1 8.1 236 — — — — 0.108 460 456 Example 70 U 1.4 10.0 311 — — — — 0.089 459 458 Example 71 U 1.3 5.9 305 — — — — 0.095 460 458 Example 72 V 1.4 5.4 368 — — — — 0.098 462 454 Example 73 V 1.7 22.2 381 — — — — 0.131 456 460 Example 74 V 0.4 5.9 159 — — — — 0.113 458 457 Example 75 W 1.2 4.7 296 — — — — 0.102 462 448 Example 76 W 0.8 7.7 214 — — — — 0.110 457 453 Comp. Ex. 77 W 0.6 2.8 141 — — — — 0.091 456 458 Example 78 X 1.1 11.0 135 — — — — 0.110 455 447 Example 79 X 1.5 4.1 345 — — — — 0.098 460 464 Example 80 X 1.2 4.3 336 — — — — 0.099 459 456 Comp. Ex. 81 Y 1.1 7.8 159 — — — — 0.099 463 469 Example 82 Y 2.2 48.0 350 300 27 — — 0.071 458 451 Example 83 Y 1.0 5.0 276 — — — — 0.086 462 465 Example 84 Z 1.1 4.9 280 — — — — 0.111 462 471 Example 85 Z 1.0 7.8 301 — — — — 0.097 462 471 Comp. Ex. 86 Z 0.9 7.1 189 — — — — 0.090 459 457 Example 87 AA 1.0 12.1 94 — — — — 0.098 458 461 Example 88 AA 1.0 4.8 197 — — — — 0.102 457 464 Example 89 AB 1.5 4.0 265 — — — — 0.092 459 458 Example 90 AB 1.2 5.3 248 — — 380  45 0.161 466 467 Example 91 AB 0.7 2.6 120 — — — — 0.098 457 452 Example 92 AC 1.1 3.0 130 — — — — 0.096 459 455 Example 93 AC 0.8 4.7 156 — — — — 0.100 461 459 Example 94 AD 1.3 2.7 276 — — — — 0.097 458 449 Example 95 AD 1.5 7.4 281 — — — — 0.096 458 457 Example 96 AE 1.0 3.0 220 — — — — 0.102 461 460 Example 97 AE 1.6 5.7 286 — — 437  26 0.089 461 457 Example 98 AF 1.2 3.3 235 — — — — 0.099 459 461 Example 99 AF 2.8 14.5 343 — — — — 0.094 461 455 Example 100 AG 0.9 13.4 194 — — — — 0.104 456 464 Example

TABLE 17 Annealing step Plating step Cooling step Plating bath Martensitic transformation Bainitic transformation Amount Chem- treatment treatment 1 of Bath Steel sheet ical Cooling Cooling Ms Average Treatment Average Treatment effective temper- entering Experimental compo- rate 1 rate 2 point temperature time temperature time Al ature temperature Example nents ° C./sec ° C./sec ° C. ° C. sec ° C. sec % by mass ° C. ° C. 1 A 1.3 4.2 364 — — — — 0.084 459 467 Example 2 A 1.6 5.4 350 — — — — 0.042 460 462 Comp. Ex. 3 A 1.3 37.0 323 — — 460 39 0.095 460 456 Example 4 A 1.1 5.6 250 — — — — 0.094 461 459 Example 5 B 1.5 5.8 375 — — — — 0.087 456 460 Example 6 B 1.2 8.0 330 — — — — 0.105 466 475 Example 7 B 1.6 6.8 336 307 13 — — 0.133 469 478 Example 8 B 1.2 7.1 365 — — 420 98 0.107 459 460 Example 9 C 1.4 8.5 296 — — — — 0.104 460 465 Example 10 C 1.3 21.9 296 — — — — 0.098 462 461 Example 11 C 1.2 8.4 296 — — — — 0.097 459 459 Example 12 C 0.9 6.4 275 — — — — 0.120 455 457 Comp. Ex. 13 D 1.1 12.1 380 — — — — 0.104 460 467 Example 14 D 1.2 24.3 343 — — — — 0.075 465 462 Comp. Ex. 15 D 2.3 14.7 401 376 17 — — 0.105 461 457 Example 16 D 1.5 13.9 360 346 12 348 26 0.110 460 464 Example 17 E 1.0 7.4 236 — — — — 0.084 459 465 Example 18 E 1.3 4.2 243 — — — — 0.114 459 456 Example 19 E 2.2 5.1 290 — — — — 0.091 462 460 Example 20 E 0.03 6.0 125 — — — — 0.086 462 468 Comp. Ex. 21 F 1.0 3.3 275 — — — — 0.109 462 454 Example 22 F 1.3 4.8 302 — — 416 15 0.119 457 461 Example 23 F 1.1 4.8 284 — — — — 0.096 461 463 Example 24 F 0.9 2.8 254 — — — — 0.080 465 460 Example 25 G 1.0 4.7 102 — — — — 0.108 458 457 Example 26 G 2.1 2.9 275 — — — — 0.108 458 460 Example 27 G 0.8 4.9 155 — — — — 0.108 463 463 Comp. Ex. 28 G 0.9 7.5 102 — — — — 0.104 462 459 Example 29 H 1.0 7.5 294 — — — — 0.101 460 466 Example 30 H 1.6 8.1 320 313 42 — — 0.131 461 456 Example 31 H 0.7 5.8 133 — — — — 0.109 463 460 Example 32 I 1.1 9.0 276 — — — — 0.096 460 463 Example 33 I 0.9 2.5 288 — — 339 83 0.075 459 460 Example 34 I 1.1 10.0 137 — — — — 0.101 459 450 Example 35 J 0.8 5.0 107 — — — — 0.106 460 456 Example 36 J 1.5 7.9 225 — — 476 21 0.108 462 468 Example 37 J 0.7 13.3 107 — — — — 0.108 457 451 Example 38 K 0.9 5.7 68 — — — — 0.095 458 453 Example 39 K 0.8 1.4 149 — — — — 0.106 458 465 Example 40 K 0.8 3.1 149 — — — — 0.096 461 462 Example 41 L 1.3 8.1 174 — — — — 0.095 459 464 Example 42 L 2.4 7.7 311 221 14 — — 0.096 463 472 Example 43 L 0.9 5.9 164 — — 525 175  0.103 458 464 Comp. Ex. 44 M 1.1 6.3 150 — — — — 0.086 459 454 Example 45 M 2.1 7.0 377 — — 419 248  0.123 463 460 Example 46 M 0.7 6.5 150 — — — — 0.082 460 464 Comp. Ex. 47 N 1.3 2.3 188 — — — — 0.086 459 460 Example 48 N 1.5 20.3 245 — — — — 0.110 459 467 Example 49 N 5.4 7.0 302 — — 385 63 0.090 461 458 Comp. Ex. 50 O 1.2 5.2 306 — — — — 0.096 461 467 Example

TABLE 18 Annealing step Plating step Cooling step Plating bath Martensitic transformation Bainitic transformation Amount Chem- treatment treatment 1 of Bath Steel sheet ical Cooling Cooling Ms Average Treatment Average Treatment effective temper- entering Experimental compo- rate 1 rate 2 point temperature time temperature time Al ature temperature Example nents ° C./sec ° C./sec ° C. ° C. sec ° C. sec % by mass ° C. ° C. 151 BB 1.0 4.8 229 — — 482 40 0.107 459 462 Example 152 BB 0.9 1.3 223 — — — — 0.057 455 453 Example 153 BC 0.9 3.3 132 — — — — 0.104 458 458 Example 154 BC 1.5 14.5 323 — — — — 0.100 457 463 Example 155 BC 1.4 3.8 319 — — — — 0.073 461 455 Example 156 BC 1.0 3.3 240 — — 453 36 0.110 458 458 Example 157 BC 1.0 6.5 204 — — — — 0.099 458 464 Comp. Ex. 158 BD 1.2 9.2 124 — — — — 0.091 458 463 Example 159 BD 0.7 2.6 124 — — — — 0.100 461 467 Example 160 BE 1.3 7.1 290 — — — — 0.090 462 468 Example 161 BE 1.1 3.0 196 — — — — 0.129 459 455 Example 162 BF 1.0 3.2 212 — — — — 0.110 457 465 Example 163 BF 1.1 3.7 231 — — — — 0.100 459 453 Example 164 BF 1.0 14.4 219 — — 458 81 0.078 464 469 Example 165 BF 1.3 9.0 219 — — — — 0.109 458 465 Comp. Ex. 166 BG 1.1 18.8 139 — — — — 0.091 460 463 Example 167 BG 3.7 2.2 406 — — — — 0.131 462 455 Example 168 BG 1.0 2.6 259 — — — — 0.090 463 470 Comp. Ex. 169 BG 1.4 7.4 328 — — — — 0.091 459 464 Example 170 BH 1.1 7.5 220 — — — — 0.094 459 462 Example 171 BH 1.9 8.3 271 — — — — 0.110 462 462 Comp. Ex. 172 BH 1.4 34.0 256 — — 394 71 0.068 464 455 Example 173 BH 1.5 16.2 271 — — — — 0.117 457 455 Example 174 BI 1.1 4.9 151 — — — — 0.111 462 468 Example 175 BI 1.0 4.9 288 — — 463 24 0.101 460 454 Example 176 BJ 1.1 4.9 124 — — — — 0.096 461 466 Example 177 BJ 2.0 9.0 315 — — 461 810  0.103 462 460 Comp. Ex. 178 BJ 0.9 23.8 124 — — — — 0.092 462 470 Example 179 BK 1.0 9.5 142 — — — — 0.107 461 459 Example 180 BK 1.5 14.2 341 — — — — 0.101 456 462 Example 181 BL 0.9 8.8 233 — — — — 0.096 463 469 Example 182 BL 1.5 35.0 319 278 24 — — 0.112 460 458 Example 183 BL 0.8 3.0 233 — — — — 0.082 466 467 Comp. Ex. 184 BL 1.2 1.7 295 — — 473 19 0.110 457 451 Example 185 BM 1.0 7.3 212 — — — — 0.104 459 450 Example 186 BM 1.5 12.7 −86 — — — — 0.091 461 453 Comp. Ex. 187 BM 1.2 10.9 246 — — — — 0.098 459 456 Example 188 BN 0.8 6.6 136 — — — — 0.091 457 457 Example 189 BN 1.1 3.0 302 — — — — 0.098 462 459 Example 190 BO 1.2 3.1 * — — — — 0.096 463 456 Comp. Ex. 191 BP 1.1 3.6 71 — — — — 0.097 458 450 Comp. Ex. 192 BQ 0.9 5.2 240 — — — — 0.099 459 462 Comp. Ex. 193 BR Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during heating in hot rolling step Comp. Ex. 194 BS 1.1 4.9 168 — — — — 0.108 458 458 Comp. Ex. 195 BT Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during heating in hot rolling step Comp. Ex. 196 BU Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during hot rolling in hot rolling step Comp. Ex. 197 BV 1.4 4.2 229 — — — — 0.110 459 457 Comp. Ex. 198 BW Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during transportation after casting of slab Comp. Ex. 199 BX 1.7 7.0 255 — — — — 0.091 466 462 Comp. Ex. 200 BY 1.1 2.7 199 — — — — 0.098 462 463 Comp. Ex. 201 A 1.5 7.2 364 — — — — 0.091 459 461 Comp. Ex.

TABLE 19 Cooling step after plating Processing Bainitic Bending - bending transformation back Cold treatment 2 Reheating treatment processing rolling Experi- Cooling Treatment Treatment Treatment Treatment Roll Processing Rolling mental Chemical rate 3 temperature time temperature time Expression diameter times reduction Example components ° C./sec ° C. sec ° C. sec (2) mm times % 1 A 3.2 — — — — 1.17 350 2 0.11 Example 2 A 2.0 — — — — 4.57 350 2 0.13 Comp. Ex. 3 A 1.9 — — — — 0.90 350 2 0.40 Example 4 A 1.9 — — 291 18 0.59 500 8 0.27 Example 5 B 3.5 — — — — 0.94 350 2 0.12 Example 6 B 3.1 — — — — 0.86 350 2 0.05 Example 7 B 2.0 — — — — 0.43 350 2 0.25 Example 8 B 2.0 313 38 — — 0.59 350 2 0.81 Example 9 C 3.5 — — — — 0.66 350 2 0.06 Example 10 C 3.2 320 61 330  6 0.50 350 2 0.08 Example 11 C 2.4 — — — — 0.70 350 2 0.15 Example 12 C 2.1 — — — — 0.21 350 2 0.18 Comp. Ex. 13 D 3.5 — — — — 0.75 350 2 0.20 Example 14 D 3.3 — — — — 1.53 350 2 0.15 Comp. Ex. 15 D 2.3 — — — — 0.70 350 2 0.20 Example 16 D 3.2 — — — — 0.71 700 6 0.09 Example 17 E 4.1 — — — — 0.72 350 2 0.19 Example 18 E 2.5 — — 324 38 0.93 350 2 0.20 Example 19 E 1.7 — — — — 1.24 350 2 0.55 Example 20 E 4.2 — — — — 0.82 350 2 0.11 Comp. Ex. 21 F 2.8 — — — — 0.72 350 2 0.49 Example 22 F 3.1 — — 310 14 0.53 350 2 0.14 Example 23 F 2.0 336 180  — — 0.62 700 6 0.14 Example 24 F 2.2 — — — — 1.63 350 2 0.18 Example 25 G 3.9 — — — — 0.66 350 2 0.16 Example 26 G 2.6 — — 253  6 0.73 700 6 0.10 Example 27 G 2.4 — — — — 0.86 350 2 0.18 Comp. Ex. 28 G 2.1 — — — — 0.61 350 2 0.05 Example 29 H 2.9 — — — — 0.94 350 2 0.38 Example 30 H 4.3 — — — — 0.43 350 2 0.10 Example 31 H 1.9 — — — — 0.83 350 2 0.19 Example 32 I 2.9 — — — — 0.81 350 2 0.22 Example 33 I 2.3 — — 273 16 1.27 350 2 0.21 Example 34 I 3.8 — — — — 0.73 350 2 1.13 Example 35 J 2.4 — — — — 0.77 350 2 0.28 Example 36 J 2.8 — — — — 0.66 700 6 0.24 Example 37 J 1.7 — — — — 0.87 350 2 0.19 Example 38 K 2.9 — — — — 0.70 350 2 0.12 Example 39 K 1.8 — — — — 0.77 350 2 0.17 Example 40 K 2.1 262 35 — — 0.76 350 2 0.15 Example 41 L 3.1 — — — — 0.77 350 2 0.15 Example 42 L 2.3 — — — — 0.89 350 2 0.14 Example 43 L 2.3 — — — — 0.84 350 2 0.17 Comp. Ex. 44 M 3.7 — — — — 0.74 400 2 0.22 Example 45 M 2.1 — — — — 0.55 400 2 0.16 Example 46 M 2.0 — — — — 1.55 400 2 0.13 Comp. Ex. 47 N 4.3 — — — — 1.28 400 2 0.25 Example 48 N 2.2 — — 314 30 0.74 400 2 0.40 Example 49 N 3.4 — — — — 0.84 400 2 0.10 Comp. Ex. 50 O 3.1 — — — — 1.11 350 2 0.20 Example

TABLE 20 Cooling step after plating Processing Bainitic Bending - bending transformation back Cold treatment 2 Reheating treatment processing rolling Experi- Cooling Treatment Treatment Treatment Treatment Roll Processing Rolling mental Chemical rate 3 temperature time temperature time Expression diameter times reduction Example components ° C./sec ° C. sec ° C. sec (2) mm times % 51 O 3.2 — — — — 0.76 350 2 0.22 Comp. Ex. 52 O 2.8 — — — — 0.46 350 2 0.15 Example 53 O 2.5 — — 291 19 0.54 350 2 0.16 Example 54 P 3.2 — — — — 0.73 350 4 0.13 Example 55 P 3.2 276 53 — — 0.60 350 4 0.22 Example 56 P 3.1 — — — — 0.43 350 4 0.18 Example 57 Q 3.0 — — — — 0.50 350 2 0.23 Example 58 Q 3.4 — — — — 0.56 350 2 0.35 Example 59 Q 3.9 268 52 272 22 0.53 1800  2 0.10 Comp. Ex. 60 R 2.6 — — — — 1.29 350 2 0.05 Example 61 R 1.8 — — — — 0.87 350 2 0.09 Example 62 R 3.6 — — 324  9 0.92 350 2 0.10 Example 63 S 4.6 — — — — 0.81 400 4 0.48 Example 64 S 2.1 — — — — 0.47 400 4 0.18 Example 65 S 2.0 — — — — 0.95 400 4 0.22 Comp. Ex. 66 T 2.8 — — — — 0.83 350 2 0.14 Example 67 T 3.0 — — — — 0.64 350 2 0.16 Example 68 T 2.5 — — — — 0.51 350 2 0.09 Comp. Ex. 69 U 4.2 — — — — 0.68 150 2 0.23 Example 70 U 3.2 — — — — 0.72 150 2 0.20 Example 71 U 0.4 — — — — 0.70 150 2 0.19 Example 72 V 2.9 — — — — 0.71 170 2 0.29 Example 73 V 0.5 — — — — 0.60 170 2 0.20 Example 74 V 2.7 — — 272 12 0.53 170 2 0.08 Example 75 W 3.1 — — — — 0.62 350 2 0.21 Example 76 W 1.5 — — — — 1.13 350 2 0.22 Comp. Ex. 77 W 1.4 — — 303 30 0.85 350 2 0.10 Example 78 X 3.8 — — — — 0.44 350 2 0.20 Example 79 X 2.8 — — — — 0.68 350 2 0.24 Example 80 X 2.4 — — 283 18 0.83  25 2 0.04 Comp. Ex. 81 Y 3.7 — — — — 0.86 350 2 0.14 Example 82 Y 2.5 — — — — 1.18 350 2 0.17 Example 83 Y 2.3 — — — — 1.27 350 2 0.16 Example 84 Z 4.4 — — — — 0.66 350 2 0.08 Example 85 Z 2.4 — — — — 0.99 350 2 0.10 Comp. Ex. 86 Z 2.9 — — — — 0.76 350 2 0.08 Example 87 AA 3.5 — — — — 0.81 350 2 0.05 Example 88 AA 3.0 — — 325  8 0.64 350 2 — Example 89 AB 4.5 — — — — 0.64 350 4 0.15 Example 90 AB 2.9 — — — — 0.41 350 4 0.21 Example 91 AB 1.2 274 54 — — 0.71 350 4 0.15 Example 92 AC 4.7 — — — — 0.71 350 4 0.06 Example 93 AC 2.7 — — — — 0.75 350 4 0.26 Example 94 AD 4.7 — — — — 0.83 350 4 0.22 Example 95 AD 2.4 — — 290 30 0.80 350 4 0.29 Example 96 AE 3.4 — — — — 0.82 350 4 0.08 Example 97 AE 3.3 — — 284  9 1.00 350 4 0.17 Example 98 AF 3.8 — — — — 0.69 350 4 0.22 Example 99 AF 2.7 — — — — 1.08 350 4 0.17 Example 100 AG 3.6 — — — — 0.56 350 4 0.19 Example

TABLE 21 Processing Cooling step after plating Bending - bending Bainitic transformation back Cold treatment 2 Reheating treatment processing rolling Experi- Cooling Treatment Treatment Treatment Treatment Roll Processing Rolling mental Chemical rate 3 temperature time temperature time Expression diameter times reduction Example components ° C./sec ° C. sec ° C. sec (2) mm times % 101 AG 2.6 — — — — 1.09 350 4 0.15 Example 102 AH 4.3 — — — — 1.07 600 4 0.10 Example 103 AH 2.8 — — — — 0.88 600 4 0.28 Example 104 AI 3.1 — — — — 0.90 350 2 0.15 Example 105 AI 2.1 — — — — 0.65 350 2 — Example 106 AJ 2.8 — — — — 0.83 350 2 0.24 Example 107 AJ 2.6 — — — — 1.39 350 2 0.29 Example 108 AK 4.8 — — — — 0.76 350 2 0.19 Example 109 AK 3.8 — — — — 1.17 350 2 0.19 Example 110 AL 3.4 — — — — 1.10 350 2 0.05 Example 111 AL 3.1 283 17 — — 0.86 350 2 0.14 Example 112 AM 3.8 — — — — 0.82 350 2 0.10 Example 113 AM 4.5 — — 310 8 1.04 350 2 0.14 Example 114 AM 3.3 270 28 — — 0.76 350 2 0.35 Example 115 AM 2.4 — — — — 0.72 350 2 0.13 Comp. Ex. 116 AN 3.2 — — — — 0.85 350 2 0.15 Example 117 AN 2.8 — — — — 0.80 350 2 0.21 Example 118 AO 3.7 — — — — 0.95 350 2 0.64 Example 119 AO 2.5 — — — — 0.77 350 2 0.10 Example 120 AP 2.7 — — — — 0.72 600 2 0.06 Example 121 AP 2.0 — — — — 0.94 600 2 0.38 Example 122 AP 0.6 — — — — 0.89 600 2 0.09 Example 123 AQ 2.8 — — — — 0.62 600 2 0.13 Example 124 AQ 1.8 — — — — 0.56 600 2 0.75 Example 125 AR 2.2 — — — — 0.84 600 2 0.18 Example 126 AR 2.8 — — — — 0.67 600 2 0.13 Example 127 AS 3.7 — — — — 1.04 750 10 0.08 Example 128 AS 2.6 — — — — 0.48 750 10 0.21 Example 129 AT 5.3 — — — — 0.55 600 2 0.19 Example 130 AT 1.5 — — 285 7 1.35 600 2 0.12 Example 131 AU 4.8 — — — — 0.55 350 2 0.13 Example 132 AU 1.9 — — — — 1.06 350 2 0.23 Comp. Ex. 133 AU 2.5 264 38 — — 0.66 350 2 0.26 Example 134 AU 1.8 — — — — 0.59 350 2 0.15 Example 135 AV 4.3 — — — — 0.65 350 2 0.21 Example 136 AV 3.5 — — — — 0.92 350 2 0.08 Comp. Ex. 137 AV 4.3 341 24 — — 0.75 350 2 0.09 Example 138 AW 3.2 — — — — 0.74 500 2 0.06 Example 139 AW 4.0 — — — — 0.61 500 2 0.40 Comp. Ex. 140 AW 2.8 279 32 — — 0.60 500 2 0.07 Example 141 AX 3.8 — — — — 0.64 500 2 0.29 Example 142 AX 2.2 — — — — 0.85 500 2 0.06 Example 143 AY 4.9 — — — — 0.77 500 4 0.28 Example 144 AY 3.9 — — — — 0.62 500 4 0.16 Example 145 AZ 2.6 — — — — 0.53 500 4 0.27 Example 146 AZ 1.6 — — — — 0.69 500 4 0.10 Example 147 BA 4.0 — — — — 0.61 350 2 0.31 Example 148 BA 3.4 — — — — 0.58 350 2 0.06 Example 149 BB 4.0 — — — — 0.61 350 2 0.34 Example 150 BB 3.4 — — — — 0.11 350 2 0.31 Comp. Ex.

TABLE 22 Processing Cooling step after plating Bending - bending Bainitic transformation back Cold treatment 2 Reheating treatment processing rolling Experi- Cooling Treatment Treatment Treatment Treatment Roll Processing Rolling mental Chemical rate 3 temperature time temperature time Expression diameter times reduction Example components ° C./sec ° C. sec ° C. sec (2) mm times % 151 BB 2.0 — — — — 0.75 350 2 0.07 Example 152 BB 1.4 — — — — 2.11 350 2 0.29 Example 153 BC 2.5 — — — — 0.65 350 2 0.13 Example 154 BC 3.0 330 21 — — 0.50 350 2 0.41 Example 155 BC 2.6 — — — — 1.18 350 2 0.12 Example 156 BC 2.0 315 90 — — 0.67 350 2 0.23 Example 157 BC 2.4 — — — — 0.64 350 2 0.04 Comp. Ex. 158 BD 3.9 — — — — 0.88 350 2 0.19 Example 159 BD 1.8 — — — — 1.14 350 2 0.05 Example 160 BE 4.9 — — — — 0.75 350 2 0.16 Example 161 BE 2.3 — — — — 0.69 350 2 0.09 Example 162 BF 2.7 — — — — 0.47 350 2 0.24 Example 163 BF 2.4 — — — — 0.60 350 2 0.05 Example 164 BF 2.3 — — — — 2.06 350 2 0.10 Example 165 BF 3.8 420 91 — — 0.53 350 2 0.14 Comp. Ex. 166 BG 4.2 — — — — 0.89 350 2 0.37 Example 167 BG 2.6 — — 277 19 0.53 350 2 0.19 Example 168 BG 2.1 — — — — 1.00 350 2 0.07 Comp. Ex. 169 BG 3.6 — — — — 0.46 70 2 0.07 Example 170 BH 3.4 — — — — 0.87 350 2 0.12 Example 171 BH 4.1 — — — — 0.55 350 2 0.07 Comp. Ex. 172 BH 2.7 279 19 — — 1.84 350 2 0.23 Example 173 BH 4.1 315 45 — — 0.57 140 2 0.07 Example 174 BI 2.5 — — — — 0.58 350 2 0.14 Example 175 BI 2.4 314 20 290 21 0.82 350 2 0.15 Example 176 BJ 4.5 — — — — 0.76 350 2 0.22 Example 177 BJ 3.6 — — — — 0.54 350 2 0.17 Comp. Ex. 178 BJ 3.2 — — — — 0.62 350 2 0.15 Example 179 BK 2.4 — — — — 0.67 350 2 0.17 Example 180 BK 3.5 — — — — 0.49 350 2 0.25 Example 181 BL 3.8 — — — — 0.71 350 2 0.50 Example 182 BL 2.7 — — — — 0.85 350 2 0.15 Example 183 BL 1.5 — — — — 2.57 350 2 0.06 Comp. Ex. 184 BL 2.3 — — — — 0.74 350 8 0.07 Example 185 BM 3.3 — — — — 0.74 350 2 0.19 Example 186 BM 2.8 — — — — 0.79 350 2 0.24 Comp. Ex. 187 BM 2.8 267 35 — — 0.75 350 2 0.18 Example 188 BN 3.1 — — — — 0.85 350 2 0.04 Example 189 BN 2.1 — — 304 14 0.73 350 2 0.06 Example 190 BO 3.4 — — — — 0.68 350 2 0.09 Comp. Ex. 191 BP 2.6 — — — — 0.76 350 2 0.28 Comp. Ex. 192 BQ 4.8 — — — — 0.71 350 2 0.09 Comp. Ex. 193 BR Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during heating in hot rolling step Comp. Ex. 194 BS 3.3 — — — — 0.53 350 2 0.10 Comp. Ex. 195 BT Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during heating in hot rolling step Comp. Ex. 196 BU Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during hot rolling in hot rolling step Comp. Ex. 197 BV 3.5 — — — — 0.61 350 2 0.04 Comp. Ex. 198 BW Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during transportation after casting of slab Comp. Ex. 199 BX 3.5 — — — — 0.93 350 2 0.13 Comp. Ex. 200 BY 3.7 — — — — 0.92 350 2 0.05 Comp. Ex. 201 A 5.0 — — — — 1.07 350 2 0.10 Comp. Ex.

TABLE 23 Microstructure Base steel surface layer Grain ¼ thickness bound- Structure fraction Structure fraction aries Hard Hard and/or Experi- Chemical Bainitic Mar- Tempered Residual phase Residual phase oxides mental com- Ferrite Bainite ferrite tensite martensite austenite others V2 austenite V1 V1/ in Example ponents % % % % % % % % % % V2 grains 1 A 59 9 12 17 0 3 0 38 0 28 0.73 none Example 2 A 64 6 8 15 2 2 3 31 1 17 0.55 none Comp. Ex. 3 A 71 14 13 2 0 0 0 29 0 20 0.70 none Example 4 A 81 3 3 0 13 0 0 19 0 15 0.77 none Example 5 B 68 11 2 14 3 1 1 30 0 17 0.56 none Example 6 B 80 6 4 8 0 2 0 18 0 12 0.66 none Example 7 B 79 5 2 0 14 0 0 21 0 12 0.59 none Example 8 B 72 14 7 2 0 5 0 23 0 16 0.68 none Example 9 C 61 0 13 23 0 3 0 36 0 22 0.60 none Example 10 C 61 4 20 0 8 7 0 32 2 22 0.70 none Example 11 C 61 6 17 16 0 0 0 39 0 22 0.56 present Example 12 C 67 7 10 13 2 1 0 32 0 16 0.51 none Comp. Ex. 13 D 71 3 6 18 0 2 0 27 0 11 0.40 none Example 14 D 79 0 6 13 0 2 0 19 0 1 0.05 present Comp. Ex. 15 D 63 4 13 2 15 3 0 34 0 18 0.53 present Example 16 D 76 6 2 0 16 0 0 24 0 12 0.52 none Example 17 E 65 2 9 18 4 2 0 33 0 19 0.57 none Example 18 E 64 6 12 0 18 0 0 36 0 12 0.32 none Example 19 E 55 12 16 15 0 1 1 43 0 14 0.32 none Example 20 E 76 5 3 3 0 0 13  11 0 6 0.59 none Comp. Ex. 21 F 67 8 5 17 1 2 0 31 0 23 0.74 none Example 22 F 60 25 9 0 5 1 0 39 0 26 0.67 none Example 23 F 65 11 16 3 0 5 0 30 2 25 0.84 none Example 24 F 71 4 9 15 0 1 0 28 0 10 0.36 none Example 25 G 72 9 0 15 3 1 0 27 0 21 0.78 none Example

TABLE 24 Microstructure Base steel surface layer Grain ¼ thickness bound- Structure fraction Structure fraction aries Hard Hard and/or Experi- Chemical Bainitic Mar- Tempered Residual phase Residual phase oxides mental com- Ferrite Bainite ferrite tensite martensite austenite others V2 austenite V1 V1/ in Example ponents % % % % % % % % % % V2 grains 26 G 45 12 0 0 43 0 0 55 0 33 0.60 present Example 27 G 67 14 3 14 0 2 0 31 2 31 1.00 none Comp. Ex. 28 G 72 12 3 13 0 0 0 28 0 20 0.72 none Example 29 H 70 2 5 21 0 2 0 28 0 16 0.58 none Example 30 H 62 4 10 4 18 2 0 36 0 27 0.75 none Example 31 H 87 0 3 8 0 2 0 11 1 7 0.61 none Example 32 I 70 12 0 18 0 0 0 30 0 15 0.51 none Example 33 I 68 18 6 0 4 4 0 28 1 17 0.60 present Example 34 I 83 5 2 9 1 0 0 17 0 14 0.80 none Example 35 J 70 7 5 16 0 2 0 28 0 12 0.43 present Example 36 J 56 10 24 5 0 5 0 39 2 33 0.85 none Example 37 J 70 8 4 15 0 3 0 27 0 18 0.68 none Example 38 K 65 10 2 17 5 1 0 34 0 24 0.71 none Example 39 K 55 21 13 6 0 0 5 40 0 34 6.84 none Example 40 K 55 9 21 9 0 6 0 39 2 26 0.67 present Example 41 L 73 0 5 19 0 3 0 24 0 16 0.68 none Example 42 L 45 0 4 0 51 0 0 55 0 41 0.75 none Example 43 L 74 4 10 2 0 0 10  16 0 12 0.72 none Comp. Ex. 44 M 87 5 0 8 0 0 0 13 0 7 0.55 none Example 45 M 59 26 6 7 0 2 0 39 0 22 0.56 none Example 46 M 87 0 0 8 4 1 0 12 1 10 0.83 none Comp. Ex. 47 N 62 13 3 21 0 0 1 37 0 26 0.69 none Example 48 N 51 18 0 0 31 0 0 49 0 31 0.63 none Example 49 N 31 31 6 24 5 3 0 66 3 49 0.74 none Comp. Ex. 50 O 74 0 8 15 0 3 0 23 1 12 0.54 none Example

TABLE 25 Microstructure Base steel surface layer Grain ¼ thickness bound- Structure fraction Structure fraction aries Hard Hard and/or Experi- Chemical Bainitic Mar- Tempered Residual phase Residual phase oxides mental com- Ferrite Bainite ferrite tensite martensite austenite others V2 austenite V1 V1/ in Example ponents % % % % % % % % % % V2 grains 51 O 76 2 6 14 0 2 0 22 0 2 0.08 none Comp. Ex. 52 O 69 0 9 21 0 1 0 30 0 17 0.56 none Example 53 O 75 0 8  0 17 0 0 25 0 7 0.28 none Example 54 P 74 9 2 14 0 1 0 25 0 17 0.66 none Example 55 P 68 10 15  1 0 6 0 26 2 21 0.79 none Example 56 P 72 10 7 10 1 0 0 28 0 23 0.82 none Example 57 Q 84 0 4 12 0 0 0 16 0 11 0.66 none Example 58 Q 66 14 8 12 0 0 0 34 0 25 0.74 none Example 59 Q 58 5 19  0 12 6 0 36 5 28 0.77 none Comp. Ex. 60 R 91 0 0  7 0 2 0 7 0 5 0.68 none Example 61 R 88 3 0  9 0 0 0 12 0 4 0.37 none Example 62 R 93 0 0  0 7 0 0 7 0 5 0.71 none Example 63 S 73 3 10 13 0 1 0 26 0 19 0.74 none Example 64 S 71 0 0 24 3 2 0 27 0 15 0.54 none Example 65 S 73 4 8 15 0 0 0 27 0 12 0.46 none Comp. Ex. 66 T 73 7 2 15 2 0 1 26 0 15 0.59 none Example 67 T 70 22 8  0 0 0 0 30 0 19 0.62 present Example 68 T 28 21 10 37 0 4 0 68 2 46 0.68 none Comp. Ex. 69 U 76 4 7 11 0 2 0 22 0 14 0.62 none Example 70 U 61 3 4 27 0 5 0 34 3 26 0.77 none Example 71 U 63 14 21  0 0 2 0 35 0 26 0.74 present Example 72 V 67 8 3 21 0 1 0 32 0 19 0.60 none Example 73 V 63 27 9  0 0 1 0 36 0 26 0.73 none Example 74 V 88 0 0  0 12 0 0 12 0 8 0.68 none Example 75 W 68 6 3 23 0 0 0 32 0 19 0.60 none Example

TABLE 26 Microstructure Base steel surface layer Grain ¼ thickness bound- Structure fraction Structure fraction aries Hard Hard and/or Experi- Chemical Bainitic Mar- Tempered Residual phase Residual phase oxides mental com- Ferrite Bainite ferrite tensite martensite austenite others V2 austenite V1 V1/ in Example ponents % % % % % % % % % % V2 grains 76 W 80 2 3 14 0 1 0 19 0 0 0.00 none Comp. Ex. 77 W 85 3 1 0 11 0 0 15 0 7 0.45 present Example 78 X 90 2 2 6 0 0 0 10 0 5 0.45 present Example 79 X 72 8 4 15 0 1 0 27 0 16 0.58 present Example 80 X 74 6 0 0 20 0 0 26 0 15 0.57 none Comp. Ex. 81 Y 84 0 4 11 0 1 0 15 0 8 0.55 none Example 82 Y 52 14 0 0 34 0 0 48 0 25 0.53 none Example 83 Y 73 12 6 9 0 0 0 27 0 17 0.63 none Example 84 Z 71 8 3 18 0 0 0 29 0 19 0.66 none Example 85 Z 67 10 5 16 0 2 0 31 0 14 0.45 none Comp. Ex. 86 Z 81 4 0 14 0 1 0 18 0 14 0.76 none Example 87 AA 72 3 6 16 1 2 0 26 0 15 0.57 none Example 88 AA 60 0 13 3 22 2 0 38 1 29 0.76 none Example 89 AB 59 11 7 23 0 0 0 41 0 31 0.75 none Example 90 AB 62 38 0 0 0 0 0 38 0 27 0.70 none Example 91 AB 76 15 6 0 0 3 0 21 1 13 0.60 none Example 92 AC 88 0 2 7 0 3 0 9 0 6 0.70 none Example 93 AC 87 0 3 5 0 5 0 8 2 5 0.63 present Example 94 AD 62 8 6 24 0 0 0 38 0 30 0.80 none Example 95 AD 61 7 8 0 23 1 0 38 0 21 0.56 present Example 96 AE 69 7 3 17 0 1 3 27 0 16 0.58 none Example 97 AE 55 33 4 0 8 0 0 45 0 33 0.74 none Example 98 AF 74 6 4 13 0 2 1 23 1 13 0.56 none Example 99 AF 50 2 6 34 8 0 0 50 0 29 0.57 none Example 100 AG 68 6 6 18 0 2 0 30 0 21 0.70 none Example

TABLE 27 Microstructure Base steel surface layer Grain ¼ thickness bound- Structure fraction Structure fraction aries Hard Hard and/or Experi- Chemical Bainitic Mar- Tempered Residual phase Residual phase oxides mental com- Ferrite Bainite ferrite tensite martensite austenite others V2 austenite V1 V1/ in Example ponents % % % % % % % % % % V2 grains 101 AG 60 0 9 21 0 0 10 30 0 22 0.73 none Example 102 AH 57 7 5 25 2 4 0 39 1 22 0.57 none Example 103 AH 60 4 31 5 0 0 0 40 0 34 0.85 none Example 104 AI 84 2 0 12 0 2 0 14 2 8 0.57 none Example 105 AI 71 21 4 4 0 0 0 29 0 21 0.72 none Example 106 AJ 70 8 5 16 0 1 0 29 0 17 0.59 none Example 107 AJ 58 13 5 24 0 0 0 42 0 26 0.63 none Example 108 AK 56 7 8 26 0 3 0 41 0 28 0.69 present Example 109 AK 54 13 25 5 0 3 0 43 0 18 0.43 none Example 110 AL 86 5 0 6 0 0 3 11 0 8 0.76 none Example 111 AL 76 19 5 0 0 0 0 24 0 16 0.65 none Example 112 AM 63 13 3 19 0 1 1 35 0 17 0.48 none Example 113 AM 64 5 6 0 24 1 0 35 0 20 0.58 none Example 114 AM 63 7 14 8 3 5 0 32 2 18 0.55 none Example 115 AM 61 15 10 12 0 2 0 37 0 3 0.09 none Comp. Ex. 116 AN 79 5 3 11 0 0 2 19 0 14 0.72 none Example 117 AN 61 7 6 23 0 3 0 36 0 28 0.79 none Example 118 AO 81 5 3 10 0 1 0 18 0 13 0.74 none Example 119 AO 70 7 4 19 0 0 0 30 0 18 0.60 none Example 120 AP 77 8 4 8 0 1 2 20 0 11 0.56 none Example 121 AP 69 16 1 14 0 0 0 31 0 26 0.83 none Example 122 AP 75 18 4 3 0 0 0 25 0 19 0.76 none Example 123 AQ 83 5 0 10 0 0 2 15 0 9 0.58 present Example 124 AQ 83 6 1 10 0 0 0 17 0 9 0.50 none Example 125 AR 87 4 2 7 0 0 0 13 0 6 0.45 present Example

TABLE 28 Microstructure ¼ thickness Base steel surface layer Structure fraction Structure fraction Grain Hard Hard boundaries Exper- Chemical Fer- Bainitic Marten- Tempered Residual phase Residual phase and/or imental com- rite Bainite ferrite site martensite austenite others V2 austenite V1 V1/ oxides in Example ponents % % % % % % % % % % V2 grains 126 AR 73 7 3 15 0 2 0 25 0 19 0.77 none Example 127 AS 75 2 8 15 0 0 0 25 0 17 0.67 none Example 128 AS 61 9 16 14 0 0 0 39 0 32 0.82 none Example 129 AT 80 2 3 14 0 0 1 19 0 12 0.64 present Example 130 AT 88 4 2 0 6 0 0 12 0 7 0.60 none Example 131 AU 87 2 0 11 0 0 0 13 0 9 0.72 none Example 132 AU 80 5 3 12 0 0 0 20 0 19 0.95 none Comp. Ex. 133 AU 86 5 4 0 0 5 0 9 1 7 0.83 none Example 134 AU 88 3 1 7 0 1 0 11 0 7 0.68 none Example 135 AV 79 0 5 13 0 3 0 18 0 12 0.64 none Example 136 AV 65 4 10 19 2 0 0 35 0 27 0.78 none Comp. Ex. 137 AV 61 13 17 4 0 5 0 34 3 26 0.75 none Example 138 AW 67 11 4 16 0 1 1 31 0 22 0.71 none Example 139 AW 63 13 8 0 0 0 16  21 0 14 0.66 none Comp. Ex. 140 AW 60 23 13 0 0 4 0 36 2 23 0.65 present Example 141 AX 61 5 6 23 2 3 0 36 0 27 0.75 none Example 142 AX 64 11 6 18 0 1 0 35 0 26 0.73 none Example 143 AY 53 4 16 25 0 2 0 45 1 28 0.62 present Example 144 AY 54 6 34 0 0 6 0 40 0 22 0.55 none Example 145 AZ 72 5 9 12 0 0 2 26 0 20 0.75 none Example 146 AZ 74 5 6 15 0 0 0 26 0 20 0.76 none Example 147 BA 75 3 5 15 0 2 0 23 0 18 0.78 none Example 148 BA 56 10 5 21 7 1 0 43 0 23 0.54 present Example 149 BB 56 8 7 26 0 3 0 41 0 27 0.66 none Example 150 BB 70 5 8 16 0 1 0 29 0 19 0.65 none Comp. Ex.

TABLE 29 Microstructure ¼ thickness Base steel surface layer Structure fraction Structure fraction Grain Hard Hard boundaries Exper- Chemical Fer- Bainitic Marten- Tempered Residual phase Residual phase and/or imental com- rite Bainite ferrite site martensite austenite others V2 austenite V1 V1/ oxides in Example ponents % % % % % % % % % % V2 grains 151 BB 65 8 20 3 0 4 0 31 0 18 0.58 none Example 152 BB 66 11 14 9 0 0 0 34 0 13 0.38 none Example 153 BC 86 4 0 8 0 0 2 12 0 9 0.75 none Example 154 BC 66 13 6 4 5 5 1 28 1 22 0.78 none Example 155 BC 67 9 3 21 0 0 0 33 0 24 0.74 none Example 156 BC 79 10 8 0 0 3 0 18 0 14 0.76 present Example 157 BC 82 4 3 11 0 0 0 18 0 17 0.97 none Comp. Ex. 158 BD 80 5 0 11 0 1 3 16 1 12 0.76 none Example 159 BD 80 6 0 14 0 0 0 20 0 15 0.77 none Example 160 BE 77 3 4 14 0 2 0 21 0 14 0.67 none Example 161 BE 85 0 4 9 0 2 0 13 0 8 0.62 none Example 162 BF 64 13 7 13 0 3 0 33 0 18 0.55 none Example 163 BF 61 5 7 24 0 3 0 36 0 28 0.77 none Example 164 BF 63 1 27 4 0 5 0 32 2 17 0.53 none Example 165 BF 63 3 21 0 0 13  0 24 3 13 0.56 none Comp. Ex. 166 BG 87 0 4 7 0 2 0 11 0 4 0.35 none Example 167 BG 41 5 10 0 42 2 0 57 0 34 0.60 none Example 168 BG 80 3 6 11 0 0 0 20 0 1 0.06 none Comp. Ex. 169 BG 71 2 6 19 0 2 0 27 0 14 0.52 none Example 170 BH 65 3 7 19 5 0 1 34 0 22 0.65 none Example 171 BH 54 5 14 25 0 2 0 44 0 33 0.75 none Comp. Ex. 172 BH 58 6 27 3 0 6 0 36 2 29 0.80 none Example 173 BH 54 13 23 5 0 5 0 41 0 34 0 83 none Example 174 BI 85 0 5 8 0 2 0 13 0 7 0.57 present Example 175 BI 75 2 13 0 5 5 0 20 0 9 0.46 none Example

TABLE 30 Microstructure ¼ thickness Base steel surface layer Structure fraction Structure fraction Hard Hard Grains Exper- Chemical Fer- Bainitic Marten- Tempered Residual phase Residual phase and/or imental com- rite Bainite ferrite site martensite austenite others V2 austenite V1 V1/ oxides in Example ponents % % % % % % % % % % V2 grains 176 BJ 83 4 2 11  0 0 0 17 0 10 0.60 none Example 177 BJ 63 9 16 0 0 0 12  25 0 21 0.83 none Comp. Ex. 178 BJ 83 3 4 8 0 2 0 15 0 10 0.64 none Example 179 BK 86 0 0 12  0 2 0 12 0 6 0.49 none Example 180 BK 64 14 7 15  0 0 0 36 0 31 0.85 none Example 181 BL 78 3 3 16  0 0 0 22 0 17 0.78 present Example 182 BL 61 8 6 3 21 1 0 38 0 33 0.88 none Example 183 BL 78 5 6 9 0 2 0 20 0 11 0.55 none Comp. Ex. 184 BL 68 20 10 2 0 0 0 32 0 20 0.61 none Example 185 BM 79 0 8 11  0 2 0 19 1 9 0.48 none Example 186 BM 90 0 0 0 0 0 10   0 0 0 0.46 none Comp. Ex. 187 BM 76 0 13 5 0 6 0 18 0 7 0.37 none Example 188 BN 86 5 2 7 0 0 0 14 0 8 0.54 none Example 189 BN 73 10 0 0 17 0 0 27 0 19 0.69 present Example 190 BO 98 0 1 0 0 0 1  1 0 0 0.00 none Comp. Ex. 191 BP 47 7 6 37  0 3 0 50 0 38 0.75 none Comp. Ex. 192 BQ 71 8 0 0 0 0 21  8 0 6 0.75 none Comp. Ex. 193 BR Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during heating in hot rolling step Comp. Ex. 194 BS 84 0 2 0 0 0 14   2 0 0 0.00 none Comp. Ex. 195 BT Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during heating in hot rolling step Comp. Ex. 196 BU Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during hot rolling in hot rolling step Comp. Ex. 197 BV 70 11 4 14  0 1 0 29 0 19 0.67 none Comp. Ex. 198 BW Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during transportation after casting of slab Comp. Ex. 199 BX 68 6 8 17  0 1 0 31 0 24 0.79 none Comp. Ex. 200 BY 60 4 7 26  0 3 0 37 0 23 0.62 none Comp. Ex. 201 A 59 8 12 17  0 4 0 38 0 18 0.47 none Comp. Ex.

TABLE 31 Plated layer ζ Phase δ1 Phase Base steel sheet Boundary Occupancy Boundary Average Average surface ratio of ζ surface thickness grain size Maximum Content occupancy grain in which occupancy Plated of refined of ferrite size of Experimental Chemical Fe Al ratio oxides present ratio amount layer phase oxide Example components % % % % % g/m2 μm μm μm 1 A 3.6 0.19 51 0 0 61 2.4 1.6 0.02 Example 2 A 8.2 0.12 51 0 49 56 2.7 0.8 0.02 Comp. Ex. 3 A 2.5 0.20 59 0 0 67 2.4 0.6 0.04 Example 4 A 1.9 0.24 57 0 0 56 2.7 0.7 0.1 Example 5 B 2.8 0.23 40 0 0 74 3.7 0.6 0.1 Example 6 B 3.2 0.40 40 4 0 69 3.5 0.3 0.2 Example 7 B 0.9 0.43 35 0 0 60 3.4 0.4 0.1 Example 8 B 0.7 0.18 42 0 0 72 0.9 1.6 0.1 Example 9 C 2.8 0.26 46 6 0 58 2.3 0.4 0.2 Example 10 C 0.9 0.18 52 6 0 67 1.6 0.5 0.3 Example 11 C 1.7 0.20 41 5 0 63 2.2 0.4 0.3 Example 12 C 0.1 0.54  6 0 0 58 2.2 0.3 0.1 Comp. Ex. 13 D 1.6 0.23 51 0 0 68 3.0 0.3 0.1 Example 14 D 2.8 0.18 69 0 0 67 3.7 0.4 0.02 Comp. Ex. 15 D 2.2 0.31 41 0 0 65 2.9 0.4 0.04 Example 16 D 2.0 0.32 53 0 0 66 2.6 1.8 0.04 Example 17 E 2.0 0.23 65 0 0 70 2.3 1.5 0.02 Example 18 E 1.6 0.22 37 5 0 70 3.0 0.3 0.3 Example 19 E 1.9 0.19 50 0 0 66 2.5 0.4 0.1 Example 20 E 2.4 0.17 56 0 0 57 2.4 0.4 0.1 Comp. Ex. 21 F 2.0 0.25 49 9 0 68 2.8 0.4 0.3 Example 22 F 1.5 0.37 26 0 0 68 3.1 0.3 0.1 Example 23 F 1.2 0.29 50 10 0 64 1.9 0.4 0.5 Example 24 F 3.4 0.16 63 0 0 64 4.2 0.3 0.01 Example 25 G 2.6 0.34 49 0 0 71 2.9 0.3 0.1 Example 26 G 2.6 0.33 42 0 0 61 3.3 0.3 0.04 Example 27 G 2.0 0.30 39 0 0 65 3.2 0.3 0.04 Comp. Ex. 28 G 1.8 0.34 49 0 0 56 3.6 0.3 0.02 Example 29 H 2.1 0.22 48 4 0 70 2.3 0.4 0.2 Example 30 H 1.4 0.29 17 10 0 64 1.0 0.5 0.2 Example 31 H 2.0 0.42 58 0 0 61 2.4 0.3 0.1 Example 32 I 2.9 0.31 56 19 0 67 3.5 0.4 0.4 Example 33 I 4.2 0.16 88 28 3 75 1.8 0.6 0.1 Example 34 I 2.5 0.31 46 0 0 58 2.5 1.3 0.04 Example 35 J 2.5 0.26 51 8 0 72 2.9 0.3 0.3 Example 36 J 2.0 0.29 42 0 0 54 2.5 0.4 0.1 Example 37 J 1.1 0.25 29 9 0 66 0.8 1.9 0.4 Example 38 K 2.1 0.24 40 0 0 69 1.9 0.3 0.03 Example 39 K 1.9 0.25 50 0 0 71 2.1 0.4 0.1 Example 40 K 2.6 0.21 54 6 0 55 2.9 0.2 0.2 Example 41 L 2.3 0.26 62 8 0 56 2.6 0.3 0.3 Example 42 L 2.1 0.32 51 0 0 65 2.3 0.3 0.1 Example 43 L 3.2 0.46 40 0 0 57 3.0 0.3 0.03 Comp. Ex. 44 M 2.9 0.20 51 0 0 65 3.4 0.3 0.02 Example 45 M 2.0 0.37 31 0 0 57 3.3 0.3 0.03 Example 46 M 3.0 0.27 62 0 0 66 2.8 0.4 0.1 Comp. Ex. 47 N 3.0 0.16 65 9 0 64 3.5 0.3 0.5 Example 48 N 3.2 0.33 60 7 0 61 3.3 0.2 0.3 Example 49 N 3.6 0.31 45 0 0 63 3.1 0.3 0.02 Comp. Ex. 50 O 2.0 0.27 55 0 0 62 1.9 0.4 0.02 Example

TABLE 32 Plated layer ζ Phase δ1 Phase Base steel sheet Boundary Occupancy Boundary Average Average surface ratio of ζ surface thickness grain size Maximum Content occupancy grain in which occupancy Plated of refined of ferrite size Experimental Chemical Fe Al ratio oxides present ratio amount layer phase of oxide Example components % % % % % g/m2 μm μm μm 51 O 1.3 0.27 40 4 0 63 1.0 0.5 0.2 Comp. Ex. 52 O 1.7 0.30 33 0 0 62 1.8 0.3 0.1 Example 53 O 1.0 0.09 31 0 0 60 1.8 0.6 0.1 Example 54 P 2.0 0.20 46 0 0 74 2.3 1.4 0.1 Example 55 P 1.3 0.22 26 7 0 65 0.3 0.9 0.4 Example 56 P 0.6 0.29 21 0 0 66 2.1 0.5 0.1 Example 57 Q 1.3 0.22 42 0 0 62 2.4 0.4 0.1 Example 58 Q 1.5 0.31 48 0 0 70 2.2 0.4 0.1 Example 59 Q 1.6 0.25 44 8 0 74 2.0 0.5 0.3 Comp. Ex. 60 R 3.7 0.22 60 0 0 75 2.1 0.4 0.1 Example 61 R 2.1 0.19 55 0 0 68 2.0 0.4 0.1 Example 62 R 3.1 0.17 63 4 0 64 2.9 0.4 0.2 Example 63 S 3.2 0.27 48 0 0 68 2.3 0.3 0.1 Example 64 S 2.3 0.37 33 0 0 58 1.9 0.5 0.1 Example 65 S 2.7 0.27 36 0 0 152  1.8 0.4 0.1 Comp. Ex. 66 T 2.7 0.29 53 4 0 56 2.4 0.4 0.2 Example 67 T 3.0 0.27 51 0 0 56 3.0 1.5 0.02 Example 68 T 1.2 0.22 32 0 0 75 2.6 0.5 0.1 Comp. Ex. 69 U 2.4 0.23 54 0 0 58 1.8 0.5 0.1 Example 70 U 1.8 0.27 61 4 0 57 1.7 0.3 0.2 Example 71 U 2.3 0.20 46 0 0 66 1.1 0.5 0.02 Example 72 V 1.4 0.19 45 0 0 74 3.9 0.5 0.03 Example 73 V 1.2 0.45 37 0 0 56 2.2 0.6 0.04 Example 74 V 1.6 0.31 35 0 0 68 2.0 0.5 0.04 Example 75 W 1.6 0.27 50 0 0 72 1.9 0.4 0.1 Example 76 W 7.1 0.14 14 7 81 58 14.1 0.2 0.4 Comp. Ex. 77 W 2.7 0.25 45 0 0 63 2.7 0.4 0.1 Example 78 X 1.4 0.27 48 5 0 66 2.6 0.4 0.3 Example 79 X 2.0 0.31 46 0 0 69 3.1 0.5 0.1 Example 80 X 2.2 0.20 51 5 0 75 2.6 0.5 0.4 Comp. Ex. 81 Y 2.8 0.21 59 0 0 59 2.1 0.5 0.1 Example 82 Y 3.3 0.13 67 0 0 70 2.4 0.5 0.1 Example 83 Y 2.4 0.16 54 6 0 60 1.4 0.8 0.3 Example 84 Z 1.9 0.28 46 0 0 71 2.7 0.6 0.04 Example 85 Z 2.6 0.23 63 0 0 70 2.3 0.5 1.0 Comp. Ex. 86 Z 1.9 0.16 56 4 0 58 2.9 0.5 0.2 Example 87 AA 1.8 0.30 55 0 0 63 2.1 2.5 0.02 Example 88 AA 1.8 0.28 41 7 0 58 1.6 0.6 0.4 Example 89 AB 2.4 0.20 54 0 0 66 4.3 0.4 0.04 Example 90 AB 2.1 0.75 28 0 0 65 4.6 0.4 0.02 Example 91 AB 1.9 0.26 40 0 0 66 0.5 0.7 0.1 Example 92 AC 1.7 0.18 40 4 0 59 1.7 0.5 0.2 Example 93 AC 1.6 0.20 55 0 0 57 1.9 0.5 0.1 Example 94 AD 3.8 0.23 60 0 0 57 2.5 0.3 0.1 Example 95 AD 2.2 0.22 58 9 0 67 2.6 0.3 0.5 Example 96 AE 2.6 0.27 39 0 0 65 2.5 2.4 0.02 Example 97 AE 3.0 0.30 49 4 0 64 2.5 0.4 0.3 Example 98 AF 2.1 0.22 54 5 0 72 2.4 0.5 0.3 Example 99 AF 2.1 0.19 50 0 0 70 2.0 0.4 0.1 Example 100 AG 1.6 0.24 41 0 0 59 1.9 0.5 0.1 Example

TABLE 33 Plated layer ζ Phase Occupancy δ1 Phase Boundary ratio of Boundary Base steel sheet surface ζ grain in surface Average Average grain Content occupancy which oxides occupancy Plated thickness of size of ferrite Maximum Experimental Chemical Fe Al ratio present ratio amount refined layer phase size of oxide Example components % % % % % g/m2 μm μm μm 101 AG 2.6 0.20 69 0 0 69 2.8 0.4 0.1 Example 102 AH 2.8 0.21 56 0 0 72 3.0 0.5 0.03 Example 103 AH 2.9 0.29 48 0 0 72 2.3 0.5 0.04 Example 104 AI 2.1 0.25 52 7 0 68 2.8 0.4 0.2 Example 105 AI 1.7 0.29 35 0 0 62 2.3 0.5 0.04 Example 106 AJ 2.3 0.23 40 0 0 69 3.1 1.5 0.02 Example 107 AJ 3.6 0.13 80 0 0 64 3.2 0.6 0.1 Example 108 AK 2.2 0.19 63 4 0 71 2.8 0.5 0.2 Example 109 AK 2.0 0.16 61 0 0 76 2.3 0.4 0.1 Example 110 AL 4.2 0.26 61 5 5 57 4.4 0.6 0.4 Example 111 AL 3.1 0.30 38 0 0 67 4.0 0.4 0.1 Example 112 AM 1.8 0.21 56 0 0 68 2.7 0.5 0.1 Example 113 AM 3.1 0.18 51 0 0 57 2.1 0.4 0.1 Example 114 AM 2.2 0.24 50 0 0 73 2.4 0.4 0.1 Example 115 AM 1.6 0.20 45 0 0 70 2.7 0.5 0.1 Comp. Ex. 116 AN 2.6 0.30 53 0 0 70 2.9 0.6 0.1 Example 117 AN 2.0 0.23 53 5 0 63 2.2 0.4 0.3 Example 118 AO 2.3 0.44 57 0 0 65 2.3 0.4 0.04 Example 119 AO 2.8 0.34 33 0 0 72 2.9 0.5 0.1 Example 120 AP 2.1 0.23 44 0 0 61 3.7 0.6 0.1 Example 121 AP 2.5 0.18 48 0 0 73 2.7 0.5 0.1 Example 122 AP 2.6 0.35 39 0 0 66 2.9 0.5 0.03 Example 123 AQ 2.4 0.28 67 0 0 71 3.6 0.4 0.1 Example 124 AQ 2.4 0.30 31 0 0 69 3.4 0.5 0.1 Example 125 AR 1.7 0.26 37 0 0 71 3.5 2.4 0.01 Example 126 AR 2.5 0.24 57 0 0 67 3.3 0.5 0.1 Example 127 AS 2.5 0.26 49 0 0 58 2.6 0.4 0.1 Example 128 AS 2.5 0.35 43 0 0 56 2.0 0.4 0.02 Example 129 AT 1.1 0.18 42 5 0 63 3.1 0.6 0.3 Example 130 AT 4.4 0.38 69 0 0 75 2.7 0.4 0.04 Example 131 AU 2.1 0.35 43 0 0 58 2.7 0.5 0.1 Example 132 AU 2.4 0.26 47 6 0 67 2.5 0.6 0.5 Comp. Ex. 133 AU 1.3 0.22 42 0 0 59 0.7 0.8 0.1 Example 134 AU 1.3 0.17 46 0 0 66 3.2 0.5 0.1 Example 135 AV 1.8 0.21 50 0 0 71 2.6 0.7 0.04 Example 136 AV 1.8 0.19 55 9 0  8 2.0 0.5 0.4 Comp. Ex. 137 AV 2.2 0.34 57 0 0 71 2.0 0.5 0.1 Example 138 AW 2.0 0.25 36 0 0 60 2.8 0.5 0.1 Example 139 AW 2.3 0.35 39 7 0 55 3.6 0.5 0.4 Comp. Ex. 140 AW 1.8 0.18 46 8 0 60 3.8 0.5 0.6 Example 141 AX 1.7 0.20 37 0 0 58 2.6 0.6 0.1 Example 142 AX 3.3 0.40 51 8 0 75 3.2 0.4 0.4 Example 143 AY 2.3 0.19 44 0 0 57 2.4 0.6 0.03 Example 144 AY 1.4 0.16 47 0 0 70 2.1 0.4 0.04 Example 145 AZ 1.5 0.32 43 0 0 72 2.4 0.5 0.1 Example 146 AZ 1.9 0.22 47 7 0 61 2.0 0.4 0.5 Example 147 BA 1.5 0.24 32 0 0 63 1.8 0.4 0.1 Example 148 BA 1.8 0.16 40 0 0 62 2.5 0.5 0.1 Example 149 BB 2.1 0.26 45 9 0 71 2.9 0.5 0.3 Example 150 BB 0.4 1.08 11 0 0 64 2.8 0.4 0.1 Comp. Ex.

TABLE 34 Plated layer ζ Phase Occupancy δ1 Phase Boundary ratio of Boundary Base steel sheet surface ζ grain in surface Average Average grain Content occupancy which oxides occupancy Plated thickness of size of ferrite Maximum Experimental Chemical Fe Al ratio present ratio amount refined layer phase size of oxide Example components % % % % % g/m2 μm μm μm 151 BB 3.0 0.35 53 0 0 56 2.7 0.4 0.1 Example 152 BB 4.5 0.10 80 9 2 66 2.7 0.3 0.4 Example 153 BC 2.2 0.41 38 0 0 65 3.9 0.7 0.03 Example 154 BC 1.3 0.19 52 0 0 72 3.5 0.7 0.1 Example 155 BC 2.6 0.12 74 0 0 61 4.3 0.4 0.04 Example 156 BC 2.4 0.28 44 0 0 56 4.0 6.4 0.1 Example 157 BC 1.9 0.26 38 0 0 70 4.2 0.4 0.1 Comp. Ex. 158 BD 4.5 0.24 63 0 0 72 4.9 0.6 0.1 Example 159 BD 2.9 0.31 67 0 0 62 4.9 2.5 0.02 Example 160 BE 1.9 0.20 50 0 0 59 3.0 0.4 0.1 Example 161 BE 1.8 0.35 35 0 0 59 3.0 0.5 0.1 Example 162 BF 1.3 0.24 33 0 0 57 2.4 0.4 0.1 Example 163 BF 1.3 0.23 48 0 0 60 0.5 0.8 0.1 Example 164 BF 3.5 0.25 86 0 0 71 2.5 0.4 0.1 Example 165 BF 1.7 0.25 41 5 0 71 2.3 0.5 0.3 Comp. Ex. 166 BG 1.5 0.18 56 0 0 68 2.2 0.5 0.1 Example 167 BG 1.2 0.34 32 9 0 61 1.7 0.5 0.2 Example 168 BG 1.3 0.30 51 0 0 59 2.2 0.5 0.1 Comp. Ex. 169 BG 1.7 0.17 52 10 0 57 1.9 0.4 0.3 Example 170 BH 2.5 0.24 42 0 0 58 2.3 0.4 0.03 Example 171 BH 0.1 0.36  5 0 0 70 <0.1  (3.4) (<0.01) Comp. Ex. 172 BH 4.1 0.19 73 10 11 68 1.9 0.5 0.5 Example 173 BH 2.1 0.40 51 0 0 71 2.1 0.5 0.04 Example 174 BI 0.9 0.25 44 0 0 73 1.8 0.5 0.02 Example 175 BI 2.4 0.26 62 0 0 58 2.2 0.4 0.02 Example 176 BJ 3.2 0.18 61 0 0 58 3.0 0.5 0.04 Example 177 BJ 1.6 0.23 54 10 0 56 2.4 0.5 0.5 Comp. Ex. 178 BJ 1.8 0.22 4 0 0 62 2.2 0.5 0.1 Example 179 BK 1.7 0.21 48 0 0 59 3.7 0.4 0.1 Example 180 BK 1.7 0.22 40 9 0 62 2.7 0.5 0.3 Example 181 BL 3.2 0.21 65 0 0 59 2.7 0.5 0.1 Example 182 BL 2.9 0.39 50 0 0 68 2.1 0.4 0.02 Example 183 BL 5.8 0.30 67 0 25 70 2.8 0.3 0.1 Comp. Ex. 184 BL 1.9 0.28 33 0 0 70 0.5 0.8 0.03 Example 185 BM 1.5 0.23 49 0 0 68 1.9 0.5 0.04 Example 186 BM 2.3 0.22 49 0 0 67 1.7 0.4 0.1 Comp. Ex. 187 BM 1.5 0.19 31 0 0 58 1.9 0.5 0.1 Example 188 BN 3.7 0.23 66 4 0 60 4.1 0.4 0.3 Example 189 BN 3.0 0.31 56 5 0 73 4.0 0.6 0.4 Example 190 BO 1.9 0.22 49 0 0 68 2.3 0.5 0.1 Comp. Ex. 191 BP 2.6 0.37 50 0 0 66 2.2 0.5 0.1 Comp. Ex. 192 BQ 4.0 0.42 54 0 0 70 4.8 0.5 0.1 Comp. Ex. 193 BR Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during heating in hot rolling step Comp. Ex. 194 BS 1.2 0.20 34 0 0 76 2.9 0.6 0.03 Comp. Ex. 195 BT Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during heating in hot rolling step Comp. Ex. 196 BU Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during hot rolling in hot rolling step Comp. Ex. 197 BV 1.1 0.22 39 4 0 60 2.5 0.7 0.4 Comp. Ex. 198 BW Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during transportation after casting of slab Comp. Ex. 199 BX 2.1 0.23 59 0 0 71 2.3 0.5 0.1 Comp. Ex. 200 BY 1.9 0.18 47 0 0 55 2.9 0.6 0.03 Comp. Ex. 201 A 6.6 0.19 65 0 30 65 7.4 0.6 0.10 Comp. Ex.

TABLE 35 Tensile properties Bendability Maximum Total Minimum Yield strength tensile Elongation Hole TS^(0.5) × bending Experimental Chemical Thickness t YS strength TS El expansibility λ El × radius r Example components mm MPa MPa % % λ^(0.5) mm r/t  1 A 1.5 454 748 24 37 2.99E+06 1.5 1.0  2 A 1.6 454 732 26 33 2.96E+06 1.5 0.9  3 A 2.0 322 569 30 86 3.78E+06 3.5 1.8  4 A 1.5 371 693 27 40 3.12E+06 1.5 1.0  5 B 1.5 349 613 32 53 3.54E+06 3.0 2.0  6 B 1.6 316 619 31 50 3.38E+06 2.0 1.3  7 B 1.7 341 608 30 48 3.12E+06 1.0 0.6  8 B 1.2 342 553 33 54 3.15E+06 2.0 1.7  9 C 1.5 510 935 20 22 2.68E+06 1.0 0.7 10 C 1.2 575 820 23 33 3.10E+06 1.0 0.8 11 C 1.3 551 890 18 38 2.95E+06 1.5 1.2 12 C 1.7 410 748 23 39 2.94E+06 2.5 1.5 13 D 2.8 347 696 31 23 2.73E+06 4.5 1.6 14 D 1.3 357 699 29 33 3.08E+06 1.0 0.8 15 D 1.4 432 622 29 61 3.51E+06 2.5 1.8 16 D 1.2 342 609 30 73 3.85E+06 1.0 0.8 17 E 1.5 591 1015 15 41 3.11E+06 1.0 0.7 18 E 1.8 569 826 22 51 3.73E+06 2.0 1.1 19 E 1.2 583 913 17 28 2.48E+06 1.5 1.3 20 E 1.6 359 603 16 27 1.23E+06 2.0 1.3 21 F 1.5 505 880 17 47 3.04E+06 1.0 0.7 22 F 1.6 429 633 26 87 3.86E+06 1.5 0.9 23 F 1.2 488 755 24 31 2.77E+06 1.0 0.8 24 F 1.3 373 727 24 35 2.78E+06 1.0 0.8 25 G 1.3 429 833 20 39 3.00E+06 1.5 1.2 Fatigue resistance Fatigue limit Experimental DL Plating Spot Corrosion Chipping IR90° V Example MPa DL/TS adhesion weldability resistance Properties bending powdering  1 373 0.50 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example  2 333 0.45 x ∘ ∘ x x Comp. Ex.  3 253 0.44 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example  4 319 0.46 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example  5 300 0.49 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example  6 324 0.52 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example  7 333 0.55 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example  8 284 0.51 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example  9 418 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 10 469 0.57 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 11 485 0.54 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 12 345 0.46 x ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 13 288 0.41 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 14 201 0.29 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 15 301 0.48 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 16 323 0.53 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 17 498 0.49 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 18 449 0.54 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 19 385 0.42 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 20 324 0.54 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 21 445 0.51 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 22 299 0.47 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 23 405 0.54 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 24 318 0.44 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 25 407 0.49 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example

TABLE 36 Tensile properties Bendability Maximum Total Minimum Yield strength tensile Elongation Hole TS^(0.5) × bending Experimental Chemical Thickness t YS strength TS El expansibility λ El × radius r Example components mm MPa MPa % % λ^(0.5) mm r/t 26 G 1.3 759 985 16 38 3.05E+06 1.5 1.2 27 G 1.5 516 873 22 25 2.84E+06 3.5 2.3 28 G 1.2 462 818 23 22 2.52E+06 1.5 1.3 29 H 1.3 427 772 21 40 2.85E+06 2.0 1.5 30 H 1.7 573 877 20 45 3.48E+06 2.5 1.5 31 H 2.4 405 852 24 24 2.92E+06 2.0 0.8 32 I 1.3 411 742 20 63 3.21E+06 2.0 1.5 33 I 1.5 420 675 27 43 3.10E+06 2.0 1.3 34 I 1.5 367 717 28 30 2.94E+06 1.0 0.7 35 J 2.0 510 949 20 19 2.55E+06 2.0 1.0 36 J 1.6 522 846 21 32 2.92E+06 1.0 0.6 37 J 1.7 541 953 19 24 2.74E+06 1.0 0.6 38 K 1.3 693 1111 15 28 2.94E+06 1.0 0.8 39 K 1.8 456 737 26 40 3.29E+06 2.5 1.4 40 K 1.9 632 1022 16 35 3.09E+06 1.0 0.5 41 L 1.3 531 976 17 22 2.43E+06 1.0 0.8 42 L 1.4 828 1030 16 44 3.51E+06 1.0 0.7 43 L 1.4 353 601 21 20 1.38E+06 2.0 1.4 44 M 1.5 338 748 25 32 2.89E+06 2.0 1.3 45 M 1.5 439 700 28 44 3.44E+06 2.0 1.3 46 M 2.0 393 784 22 40 3.05E+06 4.5 2.3 47 N 1.5 508 832 23 31 3.07E+06 1.0 0.7 48 N 1.7 631 801 21 60 3.69E+06 2.0 1.2 49 N 2.0 767 1128 9 30 1.87E+06 1.5 0.8 50 O 1.5 440 771 24 30 2.81E+06 2.0 1.3 Fatigue resistance Fatigue limit Experimental DL Plating Spot Corrosion Chipping IR90° V Example MPa DL/TS adhesion weldability resistance Properties bending powdering 26 514 0.52 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 27 484 0.55 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 28 390 0.48 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 29 385 0.50 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 30 553 0.63 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 31 351 0.41 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 32 356 0.48 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 33 359 0.53 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 34 347 0.48 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 35 388 0.41 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 36 476 0.56 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 37 439 0.46 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 38 598 0.54 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 39 357 0.48 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 40 538 0.53 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 41 469 0.48 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 42 428 0.42 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 43 297 0.49 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 44 328 0.44 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 45 314 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 46 359 0.46 x ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 47 435 0.52 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 48 438 0.55 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 49 477 0.42 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 50 365 0.47 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example

TABLE 37 Tensile properties Bendability Maximum Total Minimum Yield strength tensile Elongation Hole TS^(0.5) × bending Experimental Chemical Thickness t YS strength TS El expansibility λ El × radius r Example components mm MPa MPa % % λ^(0.5) mm r/t 51 O 1.3 369 737 20 48 2.77E+06 1.0 0.8 52 O 1.8 401 810 24 33 3.18E+06 1.5 0.8 53 O 1.3 472 748 26 44 3.53E+06 1.5 1.2 54 P 1.5 380 683 23 62 3.23E+06 1.5 1.0 55 P 1.5 456 769 27 23 2.76E+06 1.5 1.0 56 P 1.6 418 708 25 35 2.79E+06 2.0 1.3 57 Q 1.3 439 827 22 31 2.91E+06 1.5 1.2 58 Q 1.9 431 694 27 42 3.20E+06 2.0 1.1 59 Q 1.7 467 692 26 56 3.54E+06 3.5 2.1 60 R 0.9 287 640 24 67 3.18E+06 1.0 1.1 61 R 1.3 291 636 33 31 2.95E+06 2.0 1.5 62 R 1.3 275 593 29 75 3.63E+06 2.5 1.9 63 S 1.5 571 974 17 32 2.92E+06 1.0 0.7 64 S 1.4 528 1050 15 26 2.60E+06 1.0 0.7 65 S 1.6 422 860 22 27 2.88E+06 2.0 1.3 66 T 1.5 479 911 21 26 3.11E+06 2.0 1.3 67 T 1.6 378 607 34 55 3.77E+06 2.0 1.3 68 T 1.3 663 1006  7  8 6.32E+05 3.5 2.7 69 U 1.5 396 749 25 34 2.99E+06 1.5 1.0 70 U 1.2 511 960 19 18 2.40E+06 1.0 0.8 71 U 1.6 406 640 31 43 3.29E+06 1.0 0.6 72 V 1.5 405 714 28 29 2.88E+06 2.5 1.7 73 V 2.0 342 562 33 72 3.73E+06 1.0 0.5 74 V 1.2 314 598 31 49 3.17E+06 1.0 0.8 75 W 1.5 398 772 24 32 2.91E+06 1.5 1.0 Fatigue resistance Fatigue limit Experimental DL Plating Spot Corrosion Chipping IR90° V Example MPa DL/TS adhesion weldability resistance Properties bending powdering 51 199 0.27 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 52 365 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 53 340 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 54 313 0.46 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 55 293 0.38 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 56 385 0.54 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 57 399 0.48 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 58 358 0.52 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 59 378 0.55 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 60 288 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 61 270 0.42 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 62 292 0.49 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 63 521 0.53 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 64 425 0.40 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 65 380 0.44 ∘ x ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 66 408 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 67 274 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 68 508 0.50 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 69 387 0.52 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 70 355 0.37 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 71 316 0.49 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 72 346 0.48 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 73 221 0.39 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 74 288 0.48 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 75 355 0.46 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example

TABLE 38 Tensile properties Bendability Yield Maximum Total Hole Minimum strength tensile elongation expansibility TS^(0.5) × bending Experimental Chemical Thickness t YS strength TS El λ El × radius r Example components mm MPa MPa % % λ^(0.5) mm r/t 76 W 1.8 364 693 24 39 2.73E+06 1.5 0.8 77 W 1.7 335 662 25 52 3.07E+06 1.5 0.9 78 X 2.4 284 556 32 61 3.28E+06 3.5 1.5 79 X 1.3 340 663 26 55 3.29E+06 2.0 1.5 80 X 1.7 374 617 17 47 1.79E+06 3.0 1.8 81 Y 2.0 373 831 21 29 2.71E+06 2.5 1.3 82 Y 1.7 562 783 19 70 3.48E+06 3.0 1.8 83 Y 1.8 412 713 25 47 3.26E+06 3.0 1.7 84 Z 1.5 414 781 20 33 2.51E+06 2.0 1.3 85 Z 1.7 399 758 23 36 2.88E+06 4.5 2.6 86 Z 1.7 340 682 31 27 2.87E+06 1.5 0.9 87 AA 1.5 582 1137 15 18 2.44E+06 1.5 1.0 88 AA 1.9 605 908 17 42 3.01E+06 1.5 0.8 89 AB 1.5 578 999 17 27 2.79E+06 1.0 0.7 90 AB 1.8 401 618 31 48 3.30E+06 3.0 1.7 91 AB 1.7 348 583 31 52 3.15E+06 1.5 0.9 92 AC 1.3 414 778 25 33 3.12E+06 1.5 1.2 93 AC 1.5 385 721 25 46 3.28E+06 2.0 1.3 94 AD 1.5 527 905 20 20 2.44E+06 1.0 0.7 95 AD 1.5 537 738 23 53 3.36E+06 2.5 1.7 96 AE 2.0 445 785 22 41 3.10E+06 1.5 0.8 97 AE 1.9 484 709 24 61 3.54E+06 2.5 1.3 98 AF 1.5 398 810 24 27 2.87E+06 1.0 0.7 99 AF 1.9 675 1042 18 17 2.50E+06 1.0 0.5 100 AG 1.5 536 982 18 32 3.13E+06 1.0 0.7 Fatigue resistance Fatigue limit 1R90° V Experimental DL Plating Spot Corrosion Chipping bending Example MPa DL/TS adhesion weldability resistance Properties powdering 76 202 0.29 x ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 77 301 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 78 277 0.50 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 79 299 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 80 300 0.49 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 81 362 0.44 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 82 414 0.53 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 83 375 0.53 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 84 350 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 85 209 0.28 x ∘ ∘ ∘ x Comp. Ex. 86 312 0.46 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 87 481 0.42 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 88 474 0.52 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 89 506 0.51 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 90 219 0.35 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 91 298 0.51 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 92 358 0.46 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 93 303 0.42 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 94 491 0.54 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 95 359 0.49 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 96 374 0.48 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 97 278 0.39 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 98 335 0.41 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 99 498 0.48 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 100 503 0.51 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example

TABLE 39 Tensile properties Maximum Bendability Yield tensile Total Hole Minimum strength strength elongation expansibility TS^(0.5) × bending Experimental Chemical Thickness t YS TS El λ El × radius r Example components mm MPa MPa % % λ^(0.5) mm r/t 101 AG 1.6 551 1012 15 28 2.56E+06 1.5 0.9 102 AH 0.9 621 1037 16 19 2.33E+06 1.0 1.1 103 AH 1.5 482 819 20 35 2.77E+06 1.5 1.0 104 AI 1.5 448 931 18 22 2.40E+06 1.0 0.7 105 AI 1.6 434 702 28 46 3.53E+06 2.5 1.6 106 AJ 1.5 475 899 20 33 3.10E+06 1.5 1.0 107 AJ 1.9 564 987 17 29 2.84E+06 2.5 1.3 108 AK 1.5 611 1099 14 19 2.22E+06 1.5 1.0 109 AK 1.4 560 867 18 54 3.38E+06 2.0 1.4 110 AL 1.5 287 630 27 49 2.99E+06 2.0 1.3 111 AL 1.6 302 530 29 115 3.79E+06 3.0 1.9 112 AM 1.5 598 1007 17 32 3.07E+06 1.0 0.7 113 AM 1.4 632 932 18 51 3.66E+06 2.5 1.8 114 AM 1.2 636 965 17 23 2.44E+06 1.0 0.8 115 AM 1.9 592 930 21 22 2.79E+06 2.5 1.3 116 AN 1.2 372 731 27 28 2.82E+06 1.5 1.3 117 AN 2.0 489 853 20 30 2.73E+06 1.5 0.8 118 AO 1.2 381 702 23 55 3.17E+06 1.5 1.3 119 AO 1.8 465 818 20 39 2.92E+06 2.0 1.1 120 AP 1.5 363 729 21 50 2.92E+06 2.0 1.3 121 AP 1.5 472 826 19 46 3.06E+06 1.5 1.0 122 AP 1.9 346 623 35 41 3.48E+06 2.5 1.3 123 AQ 1.5 351 725 29 33 3.25E+06 1.5 1.0 124 AQ 1.4 317 595 27 52 2.83E+06 2.0 1.4 125 AR 1.5 346 703 30 25 2.80E+06 2.0 1.3 Fatigue resistance Fatigue 1R90° V Experimental limit DL Plating Spot Corrosion Chipping bending Example MPa DL/TS adhesion weldability resistance Properties powdering 101 460 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 102 520 0.50 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 103 477 0.58 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 104 360 0.39 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 105 338 0.48 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 106 423 0.47 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 107 496 0.50 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 108 539 0.49 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 109 391 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 110 287 0.46 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 111 268 0.51 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 112 507 0.50 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 113 465 0.50 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 114 513 0.53 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 115 256 0.28 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 116 367 0.50 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 117 427 0.50 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 118 283 0.40 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 119 420 0.51 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 120 349 0.48 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 121 435 0.53 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 122 334 0.54 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 123 287 0.40 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 124 298 0.50 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 125 321 0.46 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example

TABLE 40 Tensile properties Bendability Yield Maximum Total Hole Minimum strength tensile elongation expansibility TS^(0.5) × bending Experimental Chemical Thickness t YS strength TS El λ El × radius r Example components mm MPa MPa % % λ^(0.5) mm r/t 126 AR 1.8 381 718 24 37 2.81E+06 3.0 1.7 127 AS 2.1 434 848 23 24 2.78E+06 2.5 1.2 128 AS 1.5 539 843 21 40 3.25E+06 2.0 1.3 129 AT 1.5 389 825 21 27 2.59E+06 1.0 0.7 130 AT 1.2 310 637 33 43 3.48E+06 2.0 1.7 131 AU 1.5 416 904 20 22 2.55E+06 1.5 1.0 132 AU 2.0 437 842 22 21 2.46E+06 5.0 2.5 133 AU 2.0 369 756 23 37 2.91E+06 1.5 0.8 134 AU 1.9 343 747 22 41 2.88E+06 2.0 1.1 135 AV 0.9 481 932 17 42 3.13E+06 1.0 1.1 136 AV 2.0 558 941 19 33 3.15E+06 2.5 1.3 137 AV 1.3 557 901 18 39 3.04E+06 1.5 1.2 138 AW 0.9 433 831 22 30 2.89E+06 1.0 1.1 139 AW 1.4 355 543 21 39 1.66E+06 2.5 1.8 140 AW 1.7 400 637 27 60 3.36E+06 1.5 0.9 141 AX 1.5 502 899 19 24 2.51E+06 2.0 1.3 142 AX 1.8 395 746 25 37 3.10E+06 2.0 1.1 143 AY 1.5 616 1098 15 23 2.62E+06 1.5 1.0 144 AY 2.0 465 722 27 28 2.77E+06 3.5 1.8 145 AZ 0.9 396 744 21 59 3.27E+06 1.5 1.7 146 AZ 1.2 395 709 27 38 3.14E+06 1.5 1.3 147 BA 1.5 465 842 23 28 2.97E+06 2.0 1.3 148 BA 1.6 542 883 19 30 2.73E+06 2.0 1.3 149 BB 1.5 625 995 19 22 2.80E+06 1.5 1.0 150 BB 1.5 458 866 20 23 2.44E+06 3.5 2.3 Fatigue resistance Fatigue 1R90° V Experimental limit DL Plating Spot Corrosion Chipping bending Example MPa DL/TS adhesion weldability resistance Properties powdering 126 353 0.49 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 127 361 0.43 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 128 354 0.42 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 129 359 0.44 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 130 298 0.47 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 131 404 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 132 381 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 133 348 0.46 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 134 333 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 135 416 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 136 392 0.42 ∘ ∘ x Unmeasurable Comp. Ex. 137 425 0.47 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 138 374 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 139 224 0.41 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 140 309 0.49 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 141 433 0.48 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 142 329 0.44 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 143 473 0.43 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 144 408 0.57 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 145 388 0.52 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 146 342 0.48 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 147 415 0.49 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 148 487 0.55 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 149 537 0.54 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 150 445 0.51 x ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex.

TABLE 41 Tensile properties Bendability Yield Maximum Total Hole Minimum strength tensile elongation expansibility TS^(0.5) × bending Experimental Chemical Thickness t YS strength TS El λ El × radius r Example components mm MPa MPa % % λ^(0.5) mm r/t 151 BB 2.2 492 761 22 42 2.99E+06 3.0 1.4 152 BB 2.0 542 854 22 35 3.25E+06 2.0 1.0 153 BC 1.1 271 598 29 58 3.23E+06 1.5 1.4 154 BC 1.3 427 687 24 46 2.93E+06 1.5 1.2 155 BC 1.7 443 762 23 45 3.25E+06 1.5 0.9 156 BC 2.0 330 594 29 61 3.28E+06 2.5 1.3 157 BC 1.2 361 686 27 35 2.87E+06 3.0 2.5 158 BD 1.5 353 706 29 24 2.67E+06 1.0 0.7 159 BD 1.7 369 696 26 45 3.20E+06 1.5 0.9 160 BE 1.5 421 753 26 28 2.84E+06 1.0 0.7 161 BE 1.9 384 742 25 36 3.03E+06 2.5 1.3 162 BF 1.0 480 879 20 35 3.08E+06 1.5 1.5 163 BF 1.7 568 1055 14 38 2.96E+06 1.5 0.9 164 BF 1.5 567 899 20 26 2.75E+06 1.5 1.0 165 BF 0.9 534 899 26 37 4.26E+06 2.0 2.2 166 BG 1.0 353 686 27 34 2.83E+06 1.0 1.0 167 BG 1.5 792 940 19 46 3.71E+06 2.5 1.7 168 BG 1.5 348 690 25 48 3.14E+06 3.0 2.0 169 BG 1.2 419 776 24 33 2.98E+06 1.5 1.3 170 BH 1.2 513 911 17 30 2.56E+06 1.0 0.7 171 BH 1.9 590 1052 15 24 2.51E+06 1.0 0.5 172 BH 1.8 583 861 22 27 2.89E+06 1.0 0.6 173 BH 1.3 513 818 20 47 3.21E+06 1.5 1.2 174 BI 1.5 345 675 28 44 3.26E+06 2.0 1.3 175 BI 1.2 296 481 41 43 2.84E+06 2.0 1.7 Fatigue resistance Fatigue 1R90° V Experimental limit DL Plating Spot Corrosion Chipping bending Example MPa DL/TS adhesion weldability resistance Properties powdering 151 369 0.48 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 152 458 0.54 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 153 283 0.47 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 154 385 0.56 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 155 384 0.50 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 156 310 0.52 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 157 381 0.56 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 158 293 0.42 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 159 362 0.52 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 160 359 0.48 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 161 329 0.44 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 162 376 0.43 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 163 495 0.47 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 164 460 0.51 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 165 419 0.47 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 166 295 0.43 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 167 615 0.65 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 168 197 0.29 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 169 354 0.46 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 170 457 0.50 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 171 535 0.51 x ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 172 475 0.55 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 173 488 0.60 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 174 317 0.47 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 175 215 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example

TABLE 42 Tensile properties Bendability Yield Maximum Total Hole Minimum strength tensile elongation expansibility TS^(0.5) × bending Experimental Chemical Thickness t YS strength TS El λ El × radius r Example components mm MPa MPa % % λ^(0.5) mm r/t 176 BJ 1.5 416 858 17 56 3.20E+06 1.5 1.0 177 BJ 1.4 386 630 19 25 1.50E+06 2.5 1.8 178 BJ 1.5 450 972 17 28 2.73E+06 2.0 1.3 179 BK 1.3 307 671 30 29 2.81E+06 2.0 1.5 180 BL 1.3 378 684 24 45 2.88E+06 2.0 1.5 181 BL 1.3 357 718 26 37 3.04E+06 1.5 1.2 182 BL 2.0 447 692 28 50 3.60E+06 3.5 1.8 183 BL 1.9 379 740 24 34 2.82E+06 1.5 0.8 184 BL 1.3 375 635 30 54 3.53E+06 2.6 2.0 185 BM 1.5 486 921 17 33 2.73E+06 1.0 0.7 186 BM 1.4 261 551 21 31 1.51E+06 2.5 1.8 187 BM 1.6 482 885 20 34 3.07E+06 2.0 1.3 188 BN 1.5 354 706 24 44 2.99E+06 2.0 1.3 189 BN 1.2 385 641 29 56 3.52E+06 2.0 1.7 190 BO 1.5 160 365 37 52 1.86E+06 1.0 0.7 191 BP 1.5 870 1460  5 13 1.01E+06 5.5 3.7 192 BQ 1.5 292 462 27 29 1.44E+06 4.0 2.7 193 BR Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during heating in hot rolling step 194 BS 1.5 230 430 30 35 1.58E+06 3.5 2.3 195 BT Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during heating in hot rolling step 196 BU Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during hot rolling in hot rolling step 197 BV 1.5 485 830 13 16 1.24E+06 5.0 3.3 198 BW Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of slab during transportation after casting of slab 199 BX 1.5 442 756 14 12 1.01E+06 5.0 3.3 200 BY 1.5 635 1204 3 5 2.80E+05 over 6.0 over 4.0 201 A 1.5 452 745 24 38 2.99E+06 1.5 1.0 Fatigue resistance Fatigue 1R90° V Experimental limit DL Plating Spot Corrosion Chipping bending Example MPa DL/TS adhesion weldability resistance Properties powdering 176 412 0.48 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 177 349 0.55 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 178 433 0.45 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 179 282 0.42 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 180 346 0.51 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 181 338 0.47 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 182 431 0.62 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 183 361 0.49 x ∘ ∘ x x Comp. Ex. 184 353 0.56 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 185 397 0.43 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 186 216 0.39 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 187 418 0.47 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 188 314 0.44 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 189 368 0.57 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Example 190 155 0.42 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 191 423 0.29 ∘ x ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 192 175 0.38 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 193 Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of Comp. Ex. slab during heating in hot rolling step 194 155 0.36 ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 195 Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking Comp. Ex. of slab during heating in hot rolling step 196 Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking Comp. Ex. of slab during hot rolling in hot rolling step 197 234 0.28 ∘ x ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 198 Experiment stopped due to occurrence of cracking of Comp. Ex. slab during transportation after casting of slab 199 208 0.28 ∘ x ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 200 298 0.25 ∘ x ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex. 201 380 0.51 x ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Comp. Ex.

Experimental Example 190 is an example in which since the C content was low and the volume fraction of the hard phase was low, sufficient strength, ductility and hole expansibility could not be obtained.

Experimental Example 191 is an example in which the C content was high and spot weldability deteriorated. Further, a fraction of martensite was high, and fatigue resistance, ductility hole expansibility and bendability were deteriorated.

Experimental Example 192 is an example in which since the Si content was low, large amounts of pearlite and coarse cementite were formed in the annealing step and the plating step, formability of the steel sheet could not be sufficiently obtained.

Experimental Example 193 is an example in which the experiment was stopped since the Si content was high and the slab was cracked during heating in the hot rolling step.

Experimental Example 194 is an example in which since the Mn content was low, large amounts of pearlite and coarse cementite were formed in the annealing step and the plating step, formability of the steel sheet could not be sufficiently obtained.

Experimental Example 195 is an example in which the experiment was stopped since the Mn content was high and the slab was cracked during heating in the hot rolling step.

Experimental Example 196 is an example in which the experiment was stopped since the P content was high and the slab was cracked after rolling in the hot rolling step.

Experimental Example 197 is an example in which since the S content was high and a large amount of coarse sulfides were formed, ductility, hole expansibility, bendability, spot weldability and fatigue resistance deteriorated.

Experimental Example 198 is an example in which the experiment was stopped since the Al content was high and the slab was cracked during transportation in the hot rolling step.

Experimental Example 199 is an example in which since the N content was high and a large amount of coarse nitrides were formed, ductility, hole expansibility, bendability, spot weldability and fatigue resistance deteriorated.

Experimental Example 200 is an example in which since the O content was high and a large amount of coarse oxides were formed, ductility, hole expansibility, bendability, spot weldability and fatigue resistance deteriorated.

Experimental Examples 27, 132, and 157 are examples in which since the value of Expression (1) was small in the hot rolling step, the fraction (V1/V2) of the hard phase in the surface layer became high, and sufficient bendability could not be obtained.

Experimental Examples 51, 115, and 168 are examples in which since the value of Expression (1) was large in the hot rolling step, decarburization excessively proceeded in the surface layer and the fraction (V1/V2) of the hard phase became small, and sufficient fatigue resistance could not be obtained.

Experimental Example 85 is an example in which since the average heating rate at 600° C. to 750° C. was too small, growth of oxidation excessively proceeded inside the steel sheet and coarse oxides which act as a fracture origin were formed, bendability and fatigue resistance deteriorated. With a deterioration of bendability, in an evaluation test of plating adhesion and powdering property, plating peeling originating from bending and cracking of the steel sheet occurred, and therefore plating adhesion and powdering property deteriorated.

Experimental Example 68 is an example in which since the maximum heating temperature (T_(M)) was more than Ac3 point in the annealing step, and the volume fraction of the ferrite phase at the ¼ thickness was low, ductility and bendability deteriorated.

Experimental Example 186 is an example in which since the maximum heating temperature (T_(M)) was less than (Ac1 point+20°)° C. in the annealing step, and the coarse iron-based carbides remained without melting, ductility and hole expansibility deteriorated.

Experimental Example 46 is an example in which since the air ratio in the preheating zone was small in the heating step of the annealing step, plating adhesion deteriorated. Since plating peeling occurred at the time of bending deformation by the deterioration of plating adhesion, bendability also deteriorated.

Experimental Example 14 is an example in which since the air ratio in the preheating zone was large in the heating step of the annealing step, decarburization excessively proceeded in the surface layer and the fraction (V1/V2) of the hard phase became small, fatigue resistance deteriorated.

Experimental Example 171 is an example in which since the ratio between the water vapor partial pressure P(H₂O) and the hydrogen partial pressure P(H₂), P(H₂O)/P(H₂), in the reduction zone in the heating step of the annealing step was small, the grain size of the surface of the base steel sheet was not refined, and ζ phase formation did not proceed in the plated layer, plating adhesion was deteriorated. Here, the refined layer was not formed, the average grain size of the ferrite in the surface of the base steel sheet was 3.4 μm, and the maximum size of the oxides was less than 0.01 μm inside the steel sheet within a range up to 0.5 μm from the surface.

Experimental Example 201 is an example in which since the ratio between the water vapor partial pressure P(H₂O) and the hydrogen partial pressure P(H₂), P(H₂O)/P(H₂), in the reduction zone in the heating step of the annealing step was large, the refined layer of the surface of the base steel sheet was excessively thick, and alloying of the plated layer excessively proceeded, plating adhesion deteriorated.

Experimental Example 76 is an example in which since the ratio between the water vapor partial pressure P(H₂O) and the hydrogen partial pressure P(H₂), P(H₂O)/P(H₂), in the reduction zone in the heating step of the annealing step was specifically large, decarburization excessively proceeded in the surface layer and the fraction (V1/V2) of the hard phase became small, and fatigue resistance deteriorated.

Experimental Example 20 is an example in which since the average cooling rate (average cooling rate 1) between 760° C. and 700° C. was low in the cooling step of the annealing step, a large amount of pearlite was formed, ductility and hole expansibility deteriorated.

Experimental Example 49 is an example in which since the average cooling rate (average cooling rate 1) between 760° C. and 700° C. was high in the cooling step of the annealing step, and the volume fraction of the ferrite phase at the ¼ thickness was low, sufficient ductility could not be obtained.

Experimental Example 139 is an example in which since the average cooling rate (average cooling rate 2) between 650° C. and 500° C. was low in the cooling step of the annealing step, a large amount of pearlite was formed, ductility and hole expansibility deteriorated.

Experimental Example 2 is an example in which the amount of effective Al in the plating bath was small and the amount of Fe in the plated layer was large in the plating step, plating adhesion deteriorated.

Experimental Example 150 is an example in which the amount of effective Al in the plating bath and Al in the plated layer increased and the ratio of the interface between the ζ phase, and the base steel in the entire interface between the plated layer and the base steel, bendability and plating adhesion deteriorated.

Experimental Example 12 is an example in which since the value of Expression (2) was small in the plating step and the ratio of the interface between the r phase and the base steel in the entire interface between the plated layer and the base steel, plating adhesion deteriorated.

Experimental Example 183 is an example in which since the value of Expression (2) was large in the plating step and the amount of Fe in the plated layer was large in the plating step, plating adhesion deteriorated.

Experimental Example 65 is an example in which since the blowing pressure of the mixed gas mainly including nitrogen after the immersion was low in the plating bath in the plating step, and the plated amount of the plating layer excessively increased, spot weldability deteriorated.

Experimental Example 136 is an example in which since the blowing pressure of the mixed gas mainly including nitrogen after the immersion was high in the plating bath in the plating step, and the plated amount of the plating layer decreased, and sufficient corrosion resistance could not be obtained.

Experimental Examples 7, 15, 30, 42, 82, and 182 are examples in which the martensitic transformation treatment was applied in the cooling step of the annealing step, and high strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheets excellent in formability, plating adhesion, weldability, corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance were obtained.

Experimental Examples 3, 36, 45, 67, 90, 103, 105, 109, 144, 151, 164, and 184 are examples in which the bainitic transformation treatment 1 was applied in the cooling step of the annealing step, and high strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheets excellent in formability, plating adhesion, weldability, corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance were obtained.

Experimental Example 43 is an example in which the bainitic transformation treatment 1 was applied in the cooling step of the annealing step. However, since the treatment temperature was high, pearlite and coarse cementite were formed, ductility and hole expansibility deteriorated.

Experimental Example 177 is an example in which the bainitic transformation treatment 1 was applied in the cooling step of the annealing step. However, since the treatment time was long, pearlite and coarse cementite were formed, and ductility and hole expansibility deteriorated.

Experimental Examples 23, 40, 55, 91, 114, 137, 154, 173, and 187 are examples in which the bainitic transformation treatment 2 was applied in the cooling step after the plating step, and high strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheets excellent in formability, plating adhesion, weldability, corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance were obtained.

Experimental Example 165 is an example in which the bainitic transformation treatment 2 was applied in the cooling step after the plating step. However, since the treatment temperature was high, a large amount of residual austenite was formed, bendability deteriorated.

Experimental Examples 4, 18, 26, 48, 53, 62, 74, 77, 88, 95, 113, 130, 167, and 189 are examples in which the reheating treatment was applied in the cooling step after the plating step, and high strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheets excellent in formability, plating adhesion, weldability, corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance were obtained.

Experimental Example 16 is an example in which the martensitic transformation treatment and the bainitic transformation treatment 1 were applied in the cooling step of the annealing step, and high strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheets excellent in formability, plating adhesion, weldability, corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance were obtained.

Experimental Examples 8, 111, 133, 140, 156, and 172 are examples in which the bainitic transformation treatment 1 was applied in the cooling step of the annealing step, and then the bainitic transformation treatment 2 was applied in the cooling step after the plating step, and high strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheets excellent in formability, plating adhesion, weldability, corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance were obtained.

Experimental Examples 22, 33, and 97 are examples in which the bainitic transformation treatment 1 was applied in the cooling step of the annealing step, and then the reheating treatment was applied in the cooling step after the plating step, and high strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheets excellent in formability, plating adhesion, weldability, corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance were obtained.

Experimental Example 10 is an example in which the bainitic transformation treatment 2 and the reheating treatment were applied in the cooling step after the plating step, and high strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheets excellent in formability, plating adhesion, weldability, corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance were obtained.

Experimental Example 175 is an example in which the bainitic transformation treatment 1 was applied in the cooling step of the annealing step, and then the bainitic transformation treatment 2 and the reheating treatment were applied in the cooling step after the plating step, and high strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheets excellent in formability, plating adhesion, weldability, corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance were obtained.

Experimental Example 80 is an example in which since a diameter of a roll used for the processing was small and excessive strain was introduced in the surface layer of the base steel sheet in the bending-bending back processing step of the processing step, ductility deteriorated.

Experimental Example 59 is an example in which since a diameter of a roll used for the processing was large and sufficient strain was not introduced in the surface layer of the base steel sheet in the bending-bending back processing step of the processing step, and a large amount of residual austenite presented in the surface layer of the base steel sheet, bendability deteriorated.

Although each embodiment and experimental examples of the present invention has been described in detail above, all of these embodiments and these experimental examples are merely examples of embodiments in implementation of the present invention. The technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted as limited only by the embodiments. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea thereof or the main features thereof.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is an effective technology for a high strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheet excellent in formability, fatigue resistance, weldability, corrosion resistance, and plating adhesion and production method thereof. According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a high strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheet excellent in ductility, hole expansibility and bendability and further excellent in plating adhesion after forming, having high fatigue limit, and having excellent spot weldability and corrosion resistance, and production method thereof. 

1-6. (canceled)
 7. A hot-dip galvanized steel sheet comprising: a base steel sheet; and a hot-dip galvanized layer formed on at least one surface of the base steel sheet, wherein: the base steel sheet includes, a chemical composition comprising, % by mass, C: 0.040% to 0.280%, Si: 0.05% to 2.00%, Mn: 0.50% to 3.50%, P: 0.0001% to 0.1000%, S: 0.0001% to 0.0100%, Al: 0.001% to 1.500%, N: 0.0001% to 0.0100%, O: 0.0001% to 0.0100%, and a remainder of Fe and impurities; in a range of ⅛ thickness to ⅜ thickness centered at a position of ¼ thickness from the surface of the base steel sheet, by volume fraction, 40% or more and 97% or less of a ferrite phase, a total of 3% or more of a hard structure comprising one or more of a bainite phase, a bainitic ferrite phase, a fresh martensite phase and a tempered martensite phase, a residual austenite phase is 0 to 8% by volume fraction, a total of a pearlite phase and a coarse cementite phase is 0 to 8% by volume fraction, in a surface layer range of 20 μm depth in a steel sheet direction from an interface between the hot-dip galvanized layer and the base steel sheet, a volume fraction of a residual austenite is 0 to 3%, the base steel sheet includes a microstructure in which V1/V2 which is a ratio of a volume fraction V1 of the hard structure in the surface layer range and a volume fraction V2 of the hard structure in the range of ⅛ thickness to ⅜ thickness centered at the position of ¼ thickness from the surface of the base steel sheet is 0.10 or more and 0.90 or less, a Fe content is more than 0% to 5.0% or less and an Al content is more than 0% to 1.0% or less in the hot-dip galvanized layer, and columnar grains formed of a ζ phase are included in the hot-dip galvanized layer, a ratio ((A*/A)×100) of an interface (A*) between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet in an entire interface (A) between the hot-dip galvanized plated layer and the base steel sheet is 20% or more, a refined layer is formed at the side of the interface in the base steel sheet, an average thickness of the refined layer is 0.1 to 5.0 μm, an average grain size of ferrite in the refined layer is 0.1 to 3.0 μm, one or two or more of oxides of Si and Mn are contained, and a maximum size of the oxide is 0.01 to 0.4 μm.
 8. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 7, wherein the base steel sheet further contains, % by mass, one or two or more selected from Ti: 0.001% to 0.150%, Nb: 0.001% to 0.100%, and V: 0.001% to 0.300%.
 9. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 7, wherein the base steel sheet contains, % by mass, one or two or more selected from Cr: 0.01% to 2.00%, Ni: 0.01% to 2.00%, Cu: 0.01% to 2.00%, Mo: 0.01% to 2.00%, B: 0.0001% to 0.0100%, and W: 0.01% to 2.00%.
 10. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 8, wherein the base steel sheet contains, % by mass, one or two or more selected from Cr: 0.01% to 2.00%, Ni: 0.01% to 2.00%, Cu: 0.01% to 2.00%, Mo: 0.01% to 2.00%, B: 0.0001% to 0.0100%, and W: 0.01% to 2.00%.
 11. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 7, wherein the base steel sheet contains, % by mass, one or two or more selected from Ca, Ce, Mg, Zr, La, and REM in a total amount of 0.0001% to 0.0100%.
 12. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 8, wherein the base steel sheet contains, % by mass, one or two or more selected from Ca, Ce, Mg, Zr, La, and REM in a total amount of 0.0001% to 0.0100%.
 13. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 9, wherein the base steel sheet contains, % by mass, one or two or more selected from Ca, Ce, Mg, Zr, La, and REM in a total amount of 0.0001% to 0.0100%.
 14. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 10, wherein the base steel sheet contains, % by mass, one or two or more selected from Ca, Ce, Mg, Zr, La, and REM in a total amount of 0.0001% to 0.0100%.
 15. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 7, wherein a ratio ((A**/A*)×100) of an interface (A**) formed between ζ grains in which coarse oxides are present and the base steel sheet in an interface (A*) between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet in the hot-dip galvanized layer is 50% or less.
 16. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 8, wherein a ratio ((A**/A*)×100) of an interface (A**) formed between grains in which coarse oxides are present and the base steel sheet in an interface (A*) between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet in the hot-dip galvanized layer is 50% or less.
 17. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 9, wherein a ratio ((A**/A*)×100) of an interface (A**) formed between ζ grains in which coarse oxides are present and the base steel sheet in an interface (A*) between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet in the hot-dip galvanized layer is 50% or less.
 18. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 10, wherein a ratio ((A**/A*)×100) of an interface (A**) formed between ζ grains in which coarse oxides are present and the base steel sheet in an interface (A*) between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet in the hot-dip galvanized layer is 50% or less.
 19. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 11, wherein a ratio ((A**/A*)×100) of an interface (A**) formed between ζ grains in which coarse oxides are present and the base steel sheet in an interface (A*) between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet in the hot-dip galvanized layer is 50% or less.
 20. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 12, wherein a ratio ((A**/A*)×100) of an interface (A**) formed between ζ grains in which coarse oxides are present and the base steel sheet in an interface (A*) between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet in the hot-dip galvanized layer is 50% or less.
 21. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 13, wherein a ratio ((A**/A*)×100) of an interface (A**) formed between ζ grains in which coarse oxides are present and the base steel sheet in an interface (A*) between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet in the hot-dip galvanized layer is 50% or less.
 22. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 14, wherein a ratio ((A**/A*)×100) of an interface (A**) formed between ζ grains in which coarse oxides are present and the base steel sheet in an interface (A*) between the ζ phase and the base steel sheet in the hot-dip galvanized layer is 50% or less.
 23. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 7, wherein a plated amount on one surface of the base steel sheet in the hot-dip galvanized layer is 10 g/m² or more and 100 g/m² or less.
 24. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 8, wherein a plated amount on one surface of the base steel sheet in the hot-dip galvanized layer is 10 g/m² or more and 100 g/m² or less.
 25. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 9, wherein a plated amount on one surface of the base steel sheet in the hot-dip galvanized layer is 10 g/m² or more and 100 g/m² or less.
 26. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet according to claim 10, wherein a plated amount on one surface of the base steel sheet in the hot-dip galvanized layer is 10 g/m² or more and 100 g/m² or less. 